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The Indian men’s senior national selection committee selected the Indian squad for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan next month. The biggest blow to both the teams was the exit of Rishabh Pant.
Pant was stripped of the vice-captaincy of the Test team and also lost the place of backup wicketkeeper in ODIs. It seems that the main reason for Pant being removed from both roles is his poor form in IPL 2026.
Rishabh Pant had not played an ODI match since 2024
Pant is leading the Lucknow Super Giants, but they are already out of the playoff race in IPL 2026.
These factors together have led the selectors to take the above tough decisions. Pant’s track record as a Test vice-captain was also not good.
In November 2025, Rishabh Pant took over the captaincy of India’s Test team against South Africa when Shubman Gill was injured. India was eliminated 0-2 in that series. Even in ODIs, although Pant was the second wicketkeeper, he has not actually played a single match in the format since August 2024. He is also not part of the T20I plans.
On social media sites like X, fans reacted to Pant’s exclusion and called it a ‘collapse’ among other things.
Rishabh Pant’s downfall, out of the ODI team and removed from the post of VC from the Test team.
-Adwaith (@Ha_mai_adwaith) 19 May 2026
Gurnoor is joining both the teams. India is keen on HTD bowlers. Happiness for the prince; Selected for ODI.
Harsh Dubey has also confirmed the place. Pant is no longer a VC in Tests and has not got a place in ODIs either.
– Bharat Ramraj (@Fancricket12) 19 May 2026
Gautam Gambhir is the only reason for Rishabh Pant losing the vice-captaincy. https://t.co/iFSH3F3vqD
– Harshit (@I_am_Harshit_17) 19 May 2026
Rishabh Pant has been dismissed from the vice-captaincy of the Indian Test team, he has been replaced by KL Rahul.
– Excellent decision by BCCI. pic.twitter.com/P6D63e7Qkn
– Ahmed says (@AhmedGT_) 19 May 2026
Rishabh was removed from the Test vice-captaincy and they hid it by dropping him from the ODI team.
– Sign Yashvardhan Dalal (@s0urav27) 19 May 2026
I think it is for Rishabh Pant in the LOI. It was quite appropriate to remove him from T20, but it is very unfortunate that he is not in the ODI plan now. https://t.co/fdxaan2sT0
– Hriday (@Hriday1812) 19 May 2026
Being dropped from the ODI team might actually help Rishabh Pant, at least he can focus on domestic cricket, work on his game and improve himself instead of sitting on the bench in the ODI team.
– Harsh 17 (@harsh03443) 30 April 2026
Also read: India’s ODI squad for Afghanistan series: Complete details of surprise selections and stars left out
Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026 and ODI
In IPL 2026, Pant continued his poor form from last year and did not impress with the bat or as captain.
This year he has scored only 251 runs in 12 matches at an average of 27.89 and strike rate of 138.67, despite getting paid Rs 1.5 lakh. 27 crores. He has only one half-century to his name this season.
In his entire ODI career, he scored only 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50 and strike rate of 106.