Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 11:35 IST
Rishabh Pant hasn't played white-ball cricket for India in nearly two years now.
Though Rishabh Pant remains an integral part of India’s Test setup, he has effectively become a one-format player over the past two years. The last time he featured in limited-overs international cricket was during the Sri Lanka tour in August 2024.
Once viewed as a strong all-format option, Pant has since slipped out of India’s white-ball plans. A mix of inconsistent performances and the rise of reliable alternatives has pushed him down the pecking order. Players such as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan have strengthened their claims with strong performances, while Dhruv Jurel has also impressed when given opportunities.
In ODIs, KL Rahul continues as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter. In the squad announced for the upcoming home bilateral series against Afghanistan, Kishan has been recalled, while Pant has not found a place.
Former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani believes Pant needs to improve in three key areas, pointing especially to his temperament. He noted that Pant’s tendency to attack every delivery without fully reading match situations is a concern – something India head coach Gautam Gambhir has also recently highlighted.
“Rishabh has to work hard on his physical fitness, consistency and temperament," Kirmani told news agency PTI. “His temperament is very vulnerable, turbulent. No player can say ‘I am a born hitter, I have to hit every ball’. You might have that particular day when you get rid of every ball you want to hit. But you have to look into the circumstances, what format you are playing, and what the team wants you to do."
“Wherever Rishabh Pant is selected, he has to show his physical fitness, he has to show his performance. He has to show his consistency is better than the other wicketkeepers competing with him. That’s it," he added.
Kirmani, who played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs for India, had previously rated Pant extremely highly when he first emerged, calling him the most naturally gifted Indian cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar. However, his view has since changed with the rise of young talent, including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
“When Rishabh Pant broke into the Indian side, I thought he was the most talented or gifted after Sachin Tendulkar. And I considered him the most talented until this new boy (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) emerged. But now when I see him playing only Tests, I am quite baffled," the former wicketkeeper-batter said.
Kirmani stressed that while coaches and mentors play a role in guiding players, responsibility ultimately lies with the individual.
“The coaches, the mentors who are around, their duty is to guide and show the player the right direction and approach. Before a match starts, they can only guide the players," he said. “You can’t blame anybody else. It has to be the player all the way, whether he or she shows good form or not. Nobody can take the blame except the player himself."
Kirmani also reflected on Pant’s career trajectory after his near-fatal accident in 2022, saying it allowed other wicketkeepers to establish themselves across formats.
“It’s the unfortunate accident which he went through. In that process, all other wicketkeepers in the making came up one after another. They showed consistency in Test matches and ODIs wherever they were selected. They showed their ability to perform when it is required. So, in that process, Rishabh Pant lost his little ground during the recuperation period. Now, he faces tremendous competition," he said.
He added that while Pant’s comeback has been significant, consistency remains an issue.
“After the near-fatal accident, it was a huge comeback for him. And he’s taking some time. He is not showing that kind of consistency he had shown earlier in all three formats," he remarked.
