Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has reckoned that the keeper-batter Rishabh Pant’s white-ball career has come to an abrupt end after he was axed for the forthcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies at home.
Speaking on his Instagram handle, Chopra asserted that the Indian team management, led by Gautam Gambhir, has already made up their mind on Pant’s white-ball future. Interestingly, the Indian ODI squad has Dhruv Jurel as KL Rahul’s back-up keeper.
“It looks like the management has already made up their mind on his white-ball future. You do feel that it’s not fair. He has played only one ODI in three years. He was part of the 2025 Champions Trophy squad but did not play. Yet, the team won while he was warming the bench. There was an opportunity for him to play against South Africa, but they played Ruturaj Gaikwad in the middle order instead,” Chopra said on his Instagram handle.
Pant last played an ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August 2024 and has played only one ODI since the end of 2022. Chopra further reckoned that it seems to be a bit unfair on Pant for being demoted without getting fair opportunities.
“Now he has been dropped altogether from the ODI squad. He has also been stripped of vice-captaincy in Tests. So he has clearly been demoted. It seems unfair to me because he has not been given enough opportunities in ODIs to make up your mind. One match in three years is not good enough. Why did you keep him in the scheme of things if you felt he wasn’t good enough?” he added.
Further, Chopra stated that Pant could make his way to the Indian ODI squad after there are changes to the current selection committee. Notably, Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, is expected to end his tenure in October 2026.
“Is it the end? I’ll say no, for the simple reason that Ajit Agarkar is leaving, and with him, one or two others might also leave. With this change, there might be a change in mindset also. That way, you might see Pant back in the scheme of things. A very good IPL season, a new selection committee, and a new chairman could change things, and Pant could be back. But for that, he has to score runs in the IPL. It has been a long time since he has had a good IPL season,” he concluded.
