MUMBAI: The latest chapter in Rishabh Pant\u2019s international journey has turned into one of the toughest stretches of his career. On Tuesday, a series of recent setbacks received formal backing, leaving the 28-year-old at the centre of fresh selection questions. His removal from the Test vice-captaincy followed a dip in ODI opportunities as Ishan Kishan moved ahead when it mattered in the one-day format. For a player once widely seen as a future India captain and a key driver behind several overseas Test triumphs, the current phase has not gone smoothly.<\/p>\n
While Pant\u2019s international standing has been under scrutiny, his franchise form has also failed to provide relief. During the IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, he managed only 251 runs across 12 matches, striking an average of 27.88. The output came with just a single fifty, a return far below what many expected from a batter of his reputation.<\/p>\n
There has also been no improvement in team results under his leadership. Lucknow Super Giants, with Pant at the helm, have slipped to the bottom of the IPL table, compounding the sense that both individual and collective momentum have been missing.<\/p>\n
In contrast to Pant\u2019s stalled spell, his closest competitors have moved ahead. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have surged forward after starring in India\u2019s successful 2026 T20 World Cup campaign and carrying that confidence and form into the IPL for their respective franchises. Their rise has only intensified the spotlight on Pant as India\u2019s selectors look for stable options across formats.<\/p>\n
Addressing the decision to step Pant down as vice-captain, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said the intent was to give Pant a clearer focus on his batting. Speaking during a virtual press conference on Tuesday, Agarkar acknowledged Pant\u2019s stature in Test cricket while insisting there was no alarm over his role in the longer format.<\/p>\n
Agarkar also explained the reasoning behind choosing Rahul as the more dependable deputy to Shubman Gill. The selection, he suggested, was guided by leadership experience and proven performance overseas.<\/p>\n
The selection meeting also produced notable calls in the pace department, with at least one decision raising eyebrows. Despite topping the wicket charts in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, Jammu & Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi was left out of the squads.<\/p>\n
Nabi\u2019s domestic numbers were eye-catching: 60 wickets in 10 matches at an extraordinary average of 12.56. Yet the selectors backed Punjab and Gujarat Titans pacer Gurnoor Brar for both Test and ODI squads. Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav, meanwhile, earned his maiden ODI call-up.<\/p>\n
This reshuffle effectively narrows the immediate pathways for Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, at least for the current round of squad selections. Agarkar confirmed that Nabi\u2019s performances were discussed in detail, but said the Test squad balance matters, particularly in terms of how many seamers India carries.<\/p>\n
Agarkar\u2019s remarks made it clear that the final balance of the bowling group was the defining factor, even with Nabi\u2019s recent domestic impact. With the squads shaped this way, the focus now shifts to how the new pace combinations and leadership choices play out for India across formats.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MUMBAI: The latest chapter in Rishabh Pant\u2019s international journey has turned into one of the toughest stretches of his career. On Tuesday, a series of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11034,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Agarkar on Rishabh Pant IPL, Test & ODI selection news","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Agarkar backs Rishabh Pant after Test vice-captaincy setback and ODI dip\u2014what it means for his India chances and next IPL push.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11035","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n