omission of Rishabh Pant From from india After the announcement of the teams for the ongoing T20 and upcoming ODI series, the white ball team has once again become a major topic of discussion. England. Although the wicketkeeper-batsman remains a vital member of India’s Test setup, he has been overlooked in both the limited-overs formats, sparking fresh discussions among fans and experts.
Former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra In a recent debate, he offered his assessment about Pant’s current position in India’s white-ball plans. Acknowledging the left-handed batsman’s immense potential, Chopra explained why selectors have continued to look elsewhere in recent months.
Aakash Chopra opens up on Rishabh Pant’s white-ball future
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra was asked why Pant was not being considered for challenging overseas white-ball assignments in countries like England. South Africa And Australia. Answering the question, Chopra rejected the notion that overseas conditions automatically strengthen Pant’s case for selection.
“To be honest, the conditions are not very difficult these days. There is a slight difference. In India, 220 runs are scored on very flat pitches and here (England) too, 190 runs are scored and more than 270 runs are scored in ODI cricket. So I don’t think the conditions are that different. Rishabh Pant is an excellent cricketer. He is a match-winner, a game-changer and an X-factor in red-ball cricket, but in white-ball cricket, he has got his Stripes have to be earned, something is going wrong in ODI cricket because he did not get enough chances and yet you dropped him. He said.
Chopra also pointed to Pant’s recent IPL performances, suggesting that the left-hander has not had the kind of season that would compel the selectors to bring him back. Pant had a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, scoring 312 runs at a strike rate of 138.05 in 13 innings before returning to Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
“He is nowhere near this in T20 cricket. It has been many seasons since he has been a rockstar in the IPL. Unless these things change, I don’t think you will see Rishabh Pant’s name around in white-ball cricket as well.” Chopra said.
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Chopra highlights India’s growing wicketkeeping depth
Chopra further explained that India’s selectors now have a number of quality wicket-keeping options across all formats, making Pant’s path to a comeback much tougher than it was a few years ago. According to the former batsman, players like KL Rahul, sanju samson And Ishan Kishan At the same time, it has strengthened its claim in white ball cricket. Dhruv Jurel And Jitesh Sharma have also emerged as strong contenders.
“You can’t even blame the selectors because there are so many options now. Today, there are Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, and behind them there is Dhruv Jurel. Jitesh Sharma. You have a lot of options available. So I don’t think Rishabh Pant’s name will come up so soon in white-ball cricket. The line is long, and Rishabh stands a little towards the back of that line.” He concluded.
With competition for places becoming increasingly intense, Chopra believes Pant will need to deliver consistent performances in domestic and franchise cricket before he can make a comeback into India’s white-ball plans. While the wicketkeeper is one of India’s most influential Test cricketers, his return to the limited-overs setup may take a little longer unless his performances warrant selection.
