27-year-old India National cricket team wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has been compared to ‘fly in milk’ by former inaugural batsman Akash Chopra.
Akash Chopra made this comparison while talking about the current situation of Rishabh Pant in the Indian T20I team about the selection of ICC Mains T20 World Cup 2026.
Rishabh Pant smelled from India’s Asia Cup squad
Despite the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning team, Rishabh Pant was not selected in India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025.
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Instead of pants, Ajit Agkar-led selection committee included Sanju Samson and Jeetesh Sharma and Jeetesh Sharma as two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the 15-man squad and Dhruv Juraral.
The pants are currently recovering from a leg fracture that he faced in the fourth test of the five -match series against England at Old Trafford, Manchester. It was reported that Rishabh Pant’s injury would be excluded from the Asia Cup 2025 and the Home Test series against the West Indies.
However, even though Rishabh Pant was fit, he did not have a certainty in India’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025, as Chief Selector Ajit Aggarkar while speaking at the press conference said that no player missed the selection due to injury.
He was India’s third largest run-scorer in T20 World Cup-Akash Chopra
Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Akash Chopra expressed surprise in the name of Rishabh Pants, which was not discussed for the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka despite good performance in the last 20-over World Cup. He explained in detail:
“When Rishabh Pant Nos Bats from 1 to 3, he has scored his runs at a strike rate of 156 and an average, which is good. However, we will not talk about the top three. When you see Nos 4 to 7, they have a strike rate of 140 and average of 30. It is still fine.”
“One thing that goes to his favor, and I am very surprised that no one talks about it, it is that he was India’s third largest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup that we won. It seems that a fly has been taken out of milk and thrown away. No one is talking about him.
In particular, Rishabh Pant did a poor outing in IPL 2025 for LSG as he scored 269 runs on an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.16.
Ishaan Kishan, a very good top -order batter – Akash Chopra
Talking about Ishan Kishan case, Akash Chopra said that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) may be a good option for the wicketkeeper-batsman top-order, but not favorable for the middle-order situation. He said:
“Ishaan Kishan, a very good top-order batsman. I am taking the name of Ishaan Kishan because it should be taken. Sometimes we forget the names. In 1 to 3, he has a strike rate of 135 and an average.
“He is a top-order smasher, a blaster. However, under the order, when the ball gets old and the ground opens, he has a strike rate of 129 in 25 and 40 innings. Finisher does not suit him. Unfortunately, this is the story.”
Also Read: Sanju Samson dumped India’s first choice for the T20 World Cup 2026 as a wicketkeeper-batsman.
