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STUMP VISION MAY 29, 2026 | The Indian Eye 44

Is Rishabh Pant’s

Test Future Secure Despite

Leadership Demotion?

Selectors and former players insist Rishabh Pant remains central to India’s red-ball plans even as

questions grow after his removal as Test vice-captain and exclusion from the ODI squad.

OUR BUREAU based on the IPL.”
Kaif went even further, calling Pant India’s
Mumbai
biggest Test match-winner with the bat.
he debate around Rishabh Pant has in- “There is no bigger match-winner for India in
tensified after India removed him as Test Tests, as a batter, than Rishabh Pant,” he said.
Tvice-captain and dropped him from the ODI That endorsement underlines how highly Pant
squad for the Afghanistan series. Yet, amid crit- is still valued within Indian cricket circles despite
icism over his IPL form and leadership struggles the recent leadership setback. At 28, Pant remains
with Lucknow Super Giants, India’s selectors and younger than several senior players in the squad
former players appear united on one point: Pant’s and still represents a long-term investment for In-
future in Test cricket remains secure. dia’s Test future.
The announcement of India’s squads for the The leadership reshuffle itself may also reflect
one-off Test and three-match ODI series against tactical thinking rather than a loss of faith. With
Afghanistan triggered immediate scrutiny. Pant Shubman Gill beginning his tenure as Test captain,
lost the vice-captaincy role to KL Rahul, while selectors may have preferred the experience and
wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan returned to the calmer presence of Rahul as deputy. Rahul, now
ODI setup ahead of him. 34, is one of India’s most senior batters and has
For many observers, the decision looked like a previously led the side in multiple formats.
significant downgrade in Pant’s standing. But chief Still, Kaif questioned the consistency of In-
selector Ajit Agarkar strongly rejected suggestions dia’s selection logic. He pointed out that selectors
that Pant’s Test place was under threat. cited age concerns while moving away from veter-
an pacer Mohammed Shami, yet continued back-
“Rishabh’s an incredible Test player,” ing Rahul despite him being only slightly younger.
“Either go by form, regardless of age, and if
Agarkar said while announcing the squads. you are scoring runs or taking wickets, you should

“We want him to become the best Test get picked,” Kaif argued. “Because I think Rish-
abh Pant deserved to continue as vice-captain.”
player that he’s always been. I don’t think The criticism reflects a broader uncertainty
there’s any concern with his spot in the over India’s transition phase after years dominat-
ed by senior stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat
Test team.” Kohli. The Afghanistan Test squad suggests India
are preparing for a generational shift led by Gill,
Those comments reflected a larger reality in Yashasvi Jaiswal and a younger core of players.
Indian cricket: Pant’s reputation in Test matches In that transition, Pant occupies a fascinating
remains vastly different from perceptions of his Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the Indian Premier League middle ground. He is experienced enough to be in-
white-ball form. dispensable yet young enough to remain central to
Over the last several years, Pant has built a 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur (ANI) India’s next era.
reputation as India’s ultimate red-ball disruptor. Importantly, selectors do not appear ready to
Whether it was his counterattacking century at come central to the current debate. Pant’s recent reduce his role in red-ball cricket. Pant remains
Sydney, his match-winning heroics at Brisbane, struggles have come overwhelmingly in white-ball India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests ahead of
or his aggressive strokeplay in England, Pant cricket and the IPL rather than in Tests. In the Dhruv Jurel, and his aggressive batting still offers
transformed the role of a modern Test wicket- ongoing IPL season, he managed only 286 runs in something few others in world cricket can replicate.
keeper-batter. Even when technically flawed, he 12 innings at an average of 28.60, while Lucknow India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan in
changed games in sessions rather than days. Super Giants endured a disastrous campaign and Mullanpur may not carry the intensity of an En-
Agarkar pointed specifically to Pant’s perfor- finished near the bottom of the table. gland or Australia series, but for Pant it could
mances in England before injury interrupted his The poor season inevitably intensified criti- still become symbolically important. After weeks
momentum. cism of his captaincy and batting temperament. dominated by discussions about captaincy losses
“He had a really good tour of England till he Yet former India batter Mohammed Kaif argued and white-ball omissions, the match offers him an
got injured,” Agarkar said. “I’m sure he’d like a that the backlash ignored Pant’s unique value in opportunity to reassert what Agarkar and Kaif in-
few more runs, but he’s always been very good in the longest format. sist remains true: that regardless of temporary set-
Test cricket.” “Red-ball and white-ball cricket are two very backs, India still see Pant as one of the pillars of
That distinction between formats has be- different formats,” Kaif said. “You are judging him their Test future.

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