Why Rishabh Pant Lost Test Vice-Captaincy?: When the BCCI announced Team India’s squad for the one-off Test match against Afghanistan, one decision took everyone by surprise: star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was removed from the vice-captaincy. While Shubman Gill retained the captaincy, KL Rahul has been appointed as the new vice-captain in Pant’s place.
Rishabh Pant Test Records and Recent Form Analysis
This decision came at a time when Pant was struggling as both captain and batsman for the Lucknow team in the IPL. However, Pant’s record in Test cricket is exceptional:
- Test Career: 3,476 runs in 49 matches at an average of 42.91.
- Excellent Form: Scored 629 runs at an average of 48.38 across 7 Tests last year (including 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries).
Despite his strong performances in red-ball cricket, he could not retain the vice-captaincy; he has been out of the limited-overs squad for the past two years due to poor averages in white-ball cricket (ODI: 33.50, T20I: 23.25).
Gautam Gambhir Statement on Rishabh Pant Captaincy Removal
Head coach Gautam Gambhir delivered a clear and stern message regarding Pant’s removal from the role. Gambhir stated:
“We don’t want Rishabh Pant to change, but in international cricket, players are expected to respect the match situation.”
Rishabh Pant Batting Style: Aggressive Gameplay vs Responsibility
When Pant is in his groove, he tears apart opposition bowling attacks and turns matches around single-handedly. However, his greatest weakness has been his irresponsible shot selection. There have been numerous occasions where he has gotten out in bizarre fashion, putting the team in a precarious position.
Gambhir is pointing towards the need for Pant to learn how to play according to the situation while sticking to his natural game.
Also Read: Explained: Why India vs Afghanistan Test Match is Not Part of WTC?
