The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced India’s squad for the upcoming Test match against Afghanistan. A key change in the squad was the removal of Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, with KL Rahul stepping into that role, while Shubman Gill remains the captain.
This decision came during the latter part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where Pant faced challenges both as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and as a batsman. Although he has struggled in white-ball formats, Pant has excelled in Test cricket.
At 28 years old, he has amassed 3,476 runs in 49 Tests at an average of 42.91 and a strike rate of 74.23. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), his average stands at 33.50, while it drops to 23.25 in T20Is. It has been nearly two years since Pant played white-ball cricket for India.
However, he performed well in Tests last year, averaging 48.38 after playing seven matches, scoring 629 runs with a strike rate of 77.75. This included two centuries and four half-centuries, but it was still not enough for him to keep the vice-captaincy.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir commented on Pant’s removal, stating that while the team management supports him, he needs to improve in reading game situations.
“We don’t want Rishabh Pant to change, but International cricket requires players to respect match situations,” said Gambhir.
When Pant is in form, he can take the game to the bowlers quickly, causing concern for rival captains. However, he has also faced criticism for his dismissals. For instance, during a Test at the MCG, Pant tried an unconventional scoop shot off Scott Boland and was caught out, prompting a frustrated reaction from Sunil Gavaskar over the wicket lost at a critical moment.
All eyes will be on Pant’s performance in the upcoming Test against Afghanistan, starting on Saturday, June 6, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.