NEW DELHI: India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir said on Friday that Rishabh Pant doesn’t need to abandon his natural way of batting, but should fine-tune how he plays based on what the game situation calls for—an outlook that closely matched the comments made by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate a day earlier. Pant was recently dropped from the role of Test vice-captain when the BCCI named the squad for India’s one-off match against Afghanistan, scheduled to start on Saturday in New Chandigarh.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gambhir made it clear that the team’s intent is not to force Pant to change his identity at the crease. “We don’t want Rishabh Pant to change,” Gambhir said, adding that international cricket requires players to stay alert to the demands of each moment. His message was simple: the wicketkeeper-batter can keep his natural strengths, but must also be smarter about adapting to match scenarios.
Gambhir’s remarks arrived a day after Ten Doeschate discussed Pant’s approach to batting and leadership. Ten Doeschate suggested that while Pant’s ability and flair are valued, there is still room for improvement in how he adjusts when required. “With Rishabh’s brilliance, we don’t want to take away all the stuff that he does,” Ten Doeschate said. “But occasionally, if he can adjust his game to play the (match) situations slightly more, I think that’s something you’ll see him work on.”
Ten Doeschate also touched on the leadership aspect, explaining that Pant’s influence isn’t tied to a specific title. “I don’t think he needs a formal title to be a leader in an elite setup like this,” he said. “And I think Rishabh understands that.”
Pant, 28, is set to mark his 50th Test appearance when India face Afghanistan. Across 49 previous Tests, he has amassed 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91, striking at 74.24. His record includes eight centuries and 18 half-centuries.
The milestone comes after a challenging stretch for Pant. In IPL 2026, he struggled for form in both roles—performing as a batter and serving as captain of Lucknow Super Giants. He also lost the Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul. During India’s Test series against South Africa and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, Pant’s attacking approach was questioned at times, with his batting decisions under particular scrutiny.
Now, the Afghanistan Test is viewed as a chance for Pant to reset and focus on red-ball cricket. With India beginning yet another Test assignment, it offers him an opportunity to bring his energy back into the longer format and make a tangible impact with the bat.
