Former India chief selector Kiran More has thrown his weight behind Rishabh Pant after the wicketkeeper-batter lost the Test vice-captaincy role to KL Rahul. Pant has been included in the 15-member group for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, but he will no longer serve as Gill’s deputy. Rahul will wear the vice-captaincy tag for the match, which begins on June 6.
Quick facts
- Kiran More backed Rishabh Pant to bounce back after losing Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul.
- Pant is named in India’s 15-man squad for the one-off Test versus Afghanistan.
- Rahul will be vice-captain for the June 6 match; Pant will not be Shubman Gill’s deputy.
- More believes this is a “phase” and that Pant will return strongly in Tests.
- He also supported the move as a way to “free him from the burden of leadership.”
- In IPL 2026, LSG sit bottom with eight points from 13 matches after four wins and nine losses.
- Pant’s IPL 2026 output stands at 286 runs in 13 games (average 28.60, strike rate 140.19).
- Pant was acquired by LSG for ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
- Pant was left out of the ODI squad; Ajit Agarkar said the focus is on him becoming the best Test player.
More framed Pant’s dip in responsibilities as part of the normal rhythm of a long career rather than a final verdict. He pointed out that whether a player wears the captain’s or vice-captain’s badge, the core job remains the same: represent India and deliver match-winning performances. In his view, Pant’s ability and fighting spirit will see him come back.
To support that stance, More referenced Pant’s record of scoring hundreds for India away from home. He added that the current setup is unlikely to unsettle the wicketkeeper-batter, suggesting coaches are trying to reduce the extra load that comes with leadership duties. More’s message was direct: stepping back from captaincy responsibility should help Pant concentrate on his batting and execution.
“Trying to free him from the burden of leadership” was the key theme in More’s explanation. He said Pant is a “terrific player and a fighter” and that the kind of phase players go through is something every cricketer experiences at some point. More also reiterated that Pant will continue to play Test cricket and, in time, win matches for India.
More elaborated that Pant has already built a strong record of scoring centuries for India on tours, and he does not expect that history to be disrupted by a change in role. He believes the coaching staff’s direction is to take leadership pressure off Pant, while still keeping him central to the team’s Test plans.
LSG struggles and Pant’s IPL 2026 form
On the franchise front, Lucknow Super Giants have endured a rough campaign in IPL 2026. With their final league match approaching, they are rooted at the bottom of the standings, collecting eight points from 13 games. Their season has brought only four victories, alongside nine defeats.
Against that backdrop, Pant’s returns have been under scrutiny. After LSG bought him for ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, he has not fully justified the price tag this season. In IPL 2026, he has scored 286 runs across 13 matches, posting an average of 28.60 and a strike rate of 140.19—figures that underline his current loss of momentum.
He has also been left out of India’s ODI squad. Ajit Agarkar, speaking to the media, said Pant is not part of the one-day group at the moment and that the team wants him to evolve into the best Test player he can be, adding there is no concern about his place in the longer format. Agarkar described Pant as one of the main batters in the Test line-up.
Agarkar pointed to Pant’s strong run on the England tour prior to injury, expressing confidence that he would want to add more runs now. He noted that India have used two different wicketkeeping approaches in one-day cricket, but maintained that in Tests, Pant remains a key player within the squad.
