Delhi’s flawless run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 came to an unexpected halt on December 31, as they suffered their first defeat of the season against Odisha. Chasing a modest target of 273, the batting lineup struggled to find any rhythm and eventually collapsed for just 192. It was a disappointing conclusion to the calendar year for the side, who were unable to overcome the disciplined bowling of the tournament underdogs.
Rishabh Pant's batting struggle continues in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Captain Rishabh Pant’s personal struggle with the bat continued during the chase, as he was unable to provide the decisive innings his team needed. The left-hander managed a brief 24 off 28 balls before being sent back to the pavilion in the 11th over, falling to medium-pacer Debabrata Pradhan. This lackluster performance added to a string of relatively low scores for the skipper throughout the competition.
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The result served as a sudden reality check for a team that had otherwise been in dominant form. Prior to this stumble, Delhi had relied heavily on the consistent run-scoring of Priyansh Arya and Virat Kohli to lead their charge. Even the lower order had shown resilience in earlier rounds, such as when fast bowler Navdeep Saini played a crucial unbeaten cameo of 34 to secure a narrow victory over Saurashtra.
Rishabh Pant's ODI future uncertain
Pant’s persistent lack of form has triggered significant debate regarding his future in the Indian ODI squad. This slump occurs at a critical juncture, making it increasingly probable that he will be overlooked for the upcoming series against New Zealand. His position is under further pressure from the emergence of Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan, both of whom have been delivering much more consistent performances in recent white-ball fixtures.
The statistical contrast between Pant and his competitors in the current Vijay Hazare Trophy is stark. Despite batting in his preferred middle-order slot, Pant has managed only 121 runs across five matches. In the same competition, Dhruv Jurel has amassed a dominant 307 runs in just three games, while Ishan Kishan made an immediate impact with a 125-run knock in his only appearance of the season against Karnataka.
Pant's campaign for Delhi has been largely defined by a single noteworthy performance, a measured 70 off 79 balls against Gujarat. Beyond that one innings, his contributions have been underwhelming, failing to provide the explosive match-winning impact that was once his trademark. This lack of reliability has seen him drift away from the core of India’s limited-overs strategy. Currently, the audacious stroke-maker finds himself on the periphery of the national white-ball setup. As the Indian management begins to formulate a long-term roadmap for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Pant faces a high-stakes month in January. He will need a dramatic resurgence in form to reclaim his status as a frontrunner for selection and prove he still belongs in the international limited-overs conversation.