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Rishabh Pant's IPL 2026 Performance
Analysis of Rishabh Pant's performance in the 2026 IPL season across 12 innings.
Primary Sources
Why Rishabh Pant was removed as India's Test vice-captain
Ajit Agarkar said Rishabh Pant remains central to India's Test plans despite losing the vice-captaincy and his ODI place. The selectors have split his role for now, with KL Rahul elevated and other wicketkeeping options preferred in one-day cricket.Rishabh Pant was removed as India Test vice-captain. (courtesy: PTI)Rishabh Pant may have lost India’s Test vice-captaincy and his place in the ODI squad, but chief selector Ajit Agarkar has made it clear that the wicketkeeper-batter’s red-ball future remains completely secure. After India’s squad announcement for the Afghanistan series, Agarkar insisted there were “no concerns” regarding Pant’s place in the Test setup despite his recent struggles in white-ball cricket.Pant was one of the biggest talking points from India’s latest squad announcement after being removed as Test vice-captain, with KL Rahul taking over the role under new captain Shubman Gill. Pant was also dropped entirely from the ODI squad as the selectors continued reshaping India’s white-ball plans.IND vs AFG, SQUAD SELECTION: UPDATES Speaking at the press conference after announcing the squad, Agarkar stressed that the selectors still view Pant as one of India’s most valuable Test cricketers.“Rishabh is an incredible Test player. Obviously, he is not part of the ODI squad at the moment,” Agarkar said.“We want him to become the best Test player that he has always been. I don’t think there is any concern with his spot in the Test team,” Agarkar added.Agarkar also explained that India’s ODI setup is currently moving in a different direction with other wicketkeeping combinations being prioritised.“As far as ODI cricket is concerned, at this point, we have gone with two different options,” he said.WHY WAS RISHABH PANT AXED AS TEST VICE-CAPTAIN?Pant’s removal as Test vice-captain appears to be part of a larger leadership reset under India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill.With Gill still leading the side, the selectors have now handed the vice-captaincy role to the far more experienced KL Rahul, who remains one of the senior-most figures in the dressing room across formats.The leadership snub, however, does not reflect any loss of faith in Pant’s actual Test value.Even after suffering an injury during the England Test series, Pant still enjoyed a sensational 2025 season in red-ball cricket. Across seven matches and 13 innings, he scored 629 runs at an average of 48.38 and a strike rate of 77.75, including two centuries in the Leeds Test against Engla...
Rishabh Pant loses India Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul and dropped ...
KEY TAKEAWAYS:Rishabh Pant loses vice-captaincy during India's Test against Afghanistan.His poor IPL form and LSG's last-place finish contributed to the selectors' decision.KL Rahul has been named as the new Test vice-captain.Rishabh Pant stripped of vice-captaincy and ODI spot as KL Rahul steps upRishabh Pant has paid dearly for one of the most underwhelming IPL campaigns of his career, as BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and the selection committee have removed Pant from the vice-captaincy role ahead of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan, handing the position to KL Rahul instead. The decision ends a chapter that began with Pant deputising for Shubman Gill during India's painful home Test series defeat against South Africa.Lucknow Super Giants, captained by Pant throughout IPL 2026, finished the tournament at the very bottom of the ten-team standings.Pant's own batting numbers did little to argue his case, with the left-hander managing only 251 runs from 12 innings. While selectors have made clear that Pant remains a vital part of India's Test plans owing to his attacking instincts and ability to turn a game single-handedly, the combination of poor form and a struggling franchise has cost him the deputy's armband.Meanwhile, Rahul is currently enjoying another productive IPL season, surpassing 500 runs and providing the kind of consistency and composure that selectors value in a deputy. With Jasprit Bumrah rested for the series entirely, he was never a candidate for the vice-captaincy, leaving Rahul as the clear and logical choice.MORE: India squad for Afghanistan Test and ODI series 2026: Full team listsIndia squad for Afghanistan Test and ODI series 2026 – Full listIndia Test squad for Afghanistan series Shubman Gill (Captain)Yashasvi JaiswalKL Rahul (Vice-Captain)Sai SudharsanRishabh PantDevdutt PadikkalNitish Kumar ReddyWashington SundarKuldeep YadavMohammed SirajPrasidh KrishnaManav SutharGurnoor BrarHarsh DubeyDhruv JurelIndia ODI squad for Afghanistan seriesShubman Gill (Captain)Rohit SharmaVirat KohliShreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)Hardik PandyaNitish Kumar ReddyWashington SundarKuldeep YadavArshdeep SinghPrasidh KrishnaPrince YadavGurnoor BrarHarsh DubeyMORE: CSK's IPL 2026 playoff chances: Qualification scenarios, wins and points requiredThe Cricket News Opinion: Pant must respond after receiving warning signsSelectors have been careful not to write Pant off entirely, and that is the right call. ...
Ajit Agarkar explains why Rishabh Pant lost his ODI place and Test vice ...
Published: 20 May 2026, 11:37 AM Updated: 20 May 2026, 11:45 AM Table of ContentsIndia's senior selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar met on Tuesday May 19 and the two most significant decisions to emerge were both about Rishabh Pant. He has been dropped from the ODI squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan and removed as Test vice-captain with KL Rahul replacing him in the leadership role. Shubman Gill continues as Test captain. The one-off Test is scheduled in Mullanpur from June 6 followed by ODIs in Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai from June 14. The selections carry a message that Ajit Agarkar was direct enough to explain and the IPL 2026 numbers sitting behind those decisions are not flattering for Rishabh Pant. Why Rishabh Pant lost his ODI place and what Ajit Agarkar said Ajit Agarkar addressed the Pant omission directly at the selection announcement. "Rishabh is an incredible Test player. Obviously he is not part of the ODI squad at the moment. We want him to become the best Test player that he has always been. I don't think there is any concern with his spot in the Test team. As far as ODI cricket is concerned at this point we have gone with two different options." Ajit Agarkar said The framing was clear. Rishabh Pant's future in white-ball cricket is contingent on performances he has not yet delivered and the selectors are not prepared to wait indefinitely while others make their case. The IPL 2026 numbers of Rishabh Pant were the most immediate evidence available to the selection panel. Rishabh Pant scored 251 runs in 11 innings for Lucknow Super Giants at an average of 27.88 and a strike rate of under 140. LSG became the first team eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race and finished at the bottom of the table with four wins from 12 games. For a player who had not played a 50-over international since 2024 and who needed the IPL to rebuild his white-ball credentials the season provided nothing compelling enough to justify selection ahead of Ishan Kishan who has been recalled as the second wicketkeeper option in the ODI squad. KL Rahul remains India's first-choice wicketkeeper in the 50-over format. The route back for Rishabh Pant involves performances and no white-ball international fixtures are scheduled before the end of the year leaving him with domestic cricket and potentially overseas tournaments as his only options. The Test vice-captaincy and what the change means Rishabh Pant had served as Gill's Test vice-captain during...
Has Rishabh Pant been ruled out of India's white-ball plans?
India announce ODI & one off Test squads vs Afghanistan. Rohit & Kohli return, while Axar & Jadeja are rested. Michael Vaughan & Joy Bhattacharjya review, on...
