Why was Rishabh Pant dropped from India's ODI squad against Afghanistan?

Rishabh Pant last played an ODI against Sri Lanka in August 2024.

On Tuesday, May 19, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the Indian squad for the Test and ODI series against Afghanistan. Both sides are set to clash in one test and three ODIs in June.

Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been overlooked for the ODI series against Afghanistan. He was also removed as the test vice-captain, with KL Rahul becoming the new deputy.

Instead of Pant, Indian selectors have opted for KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as the wicket-keepers in the ODI squad. Kishan is making a comeback after more than a year and has been preferred over Pant.

Why was Rishabh Pant ignored for the ODI series?

During the press conference, India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Pant will remain a key member of the Test team. However, they have preferred other options in the ODI squad at the moment.

“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,” he said.

Notably, Pant last played an ODI game in August 2024 against Sri Lanka. He has struggled with his form recently. For instance, Pant has flopped in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026, where he is leading Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Getting out for single digits on a few occasions, the LSG captain has piled up 251 runs in 12 games at a poor average of 27.89. Earlier this year, he also failed to make a mark in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring just 212 runs in seven games for Delhi.

Moreover, Pant has also been affected by injuries over the last one year. Last year, he sustained a foot injury in the test series against England.

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