Things were already falling apart for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026. His batting lacked consistency, his captaincy at Lucknow Super Giants came under heavy criticism, and questions around his decision-making only became louder with every match. But during the India vs Afghanistan series squad announcement on May 19, the situation worsened dramatically.
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Rishabh Pant’s vice-captain removal from the Test side and the news of Rishabh Pant dropped from ODI squad headlines sent shockwaves across Indian cricket. For a player once viewed as India’s future all-format leader, this suddenly feels like the biggest setback of his career. Keep reading to understand why the selectors made such a brutal call.
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Why India Took The Tough Test Call On Pant?
The first major blow came in the Test squad. Rishabh Pant’s vice-captain removal was not just a routine leadership change. It felt symbolic. The selectors replaced him with KL Rahul as deputy to Shubman Gill, and that decision immediately revealed where the management’s mindset currently stands. Officially, chief selector Ajit Agarkar explained that the management simply wanted Pant to focus on becoming the best Test batter he could be again. On the surface, that sounds supportive. But between the lines, the message was much stronger.
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India no longer wants leadership pressure affecting Pant’s cricket. And honestly, recent performances explain why. Pant’s IPL 2026 campaign never truly found momentum. He struggled for consistency with the bat and often looked emotionally rushed under pressure situations. His shot selection became a major talking point again, especially after several reckless dismissals in important matches.
Related Article：India Test Squad for Afghanistan — Big Selection Calls Explained
BCCI have named KL Rahul as India’s new Test vice-captain, replacing Rishabh Pant, who previously served in the role during the England tour 🇮🇳
A new chapter begins in India’s leadership group 🇮🇳#INDvAFG #ViceCaptain #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/MtjZVwkL7E
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) May 19, 2026
The Guwahati Test against South Africa, months earlier, appears to have played a major role too. During a critical collapse, Pant attempted an ambitious attacking shot against Marco Jansen instead of stabilizing the innings. India went from a strong position to disaster within minutes. Later, Gautam Gambhir publicly spoke about accountability, discipline, and caring for the team situation. While he never directly named Pant, many inside Indian cricket circles connected the dots quickly.
A vice-captaincy change in India’s Test squad 👀
KL Rahul replaces Rishabh Pant as Shubman Gill’s new deputy ©️#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/BoJC2avphl
— Sport360° (@Sport360) May 19, 2026
This is where the selectors’ thinking changed. Earlier, Pant’s unpredictability was treated as genius. Now, India seems to want greater control, especially during a transition phase under a young captain like Gill. KL Rahul, despite not being as explosive, offers calmness, tactical maturity, and proven leadership experience.
Rishabh Pant Dropped From ODI Squad — And The Message Is Clear
If losing the vice-captaincy hurt, the ODI omission may hurt even more. Because this feels bigger than a temporary rotation. Pant’s drop from the ODI squad discussions became the biggest headline from the India vs Afghanistan series announcement. India selected KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan as their wicketkeeping options instead, leaving Pant completely outside the 50-over setup.
Related Article：India Squad for Afghanistan ODI Series — Surprise Picks and Brutal Omissions Explained
Feel for Rishabh Pant 💔
• Removed from the ODI team setup
• Dropped from T20Is even after performing well in the 2024 T20 World Cup
• And now removed as Test vice-captain, with the role given to 34-year-old KL Rahul pic.twitter.com/j2cc4FzO1g— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) May 19, 2026
And here’s the worrying part. Pant has not played an ODI since 2024. Over that period, Rahul cemented himself as India’s most reliable ODI wicketkeeper-batter. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan rebuilt momentum through domestic cricket, IPL performances, and aggressive white-ball batting. The competition simply moved ahead while Pant kept drifting further away from the selectors’ immediate plans.
Rishabh Pant’s tough phase in international cricket continues. ❌#Cricket #RishabhPant #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/K59Mho042f
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 19, 2026
The management is also clearly building toward the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. That changes selection priorities completely. India now wants role clarity. They want flexibility against overseas conditions. They want players who can fit specific combinations rather than relying only on reputation. Kishan offers left-handed aggression at the top. Rahul provides stability in the middle overs. Pant, at this moment, seems stuck somewhere between those roles.
Can Pant Still Fight His Way Back Into White-Ball Cricket?
Yes, he can. But the road has suddenly become much harder. The good news for Pant is that pure talent is still on his side. Few wicketkeeper-batters in world cricket possess his natural ability to change games in one session. His overseas Test record alone proves how special he can be when fully locked in. However, talent alone is no longer enough.
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That is the harsh reality of modern Indian cricket. The management now wants maturity, discipline, and better game awareness alongside aggression. Pant’s instinctive style made him a superstar, but selectors now seem to believe he must evolve instead of relying purely on fearless cricket. And psychologically, this phase will test him deeply. Imagine being discussed as India’s future captain one year and suddenly fighting just to remain relevant in one format the next. That kind of fall can destroy confidence. However, it can also sharpen elite athletes mentally. This brings us to the biggest question.
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How does Pant respond? If he delivers strongly in Test cricket again, especially during overseas assignments, the narrative can change quickly. India still views him as a crucial red-ball batter. Agarkar repeatedly stressed that there is absolutely no concern about his Test place.
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Conclusion
The India vs Afghanistan series squad announcement may eventually become a defining turning point in Rishabh Pant’s career. Rishabh Pant’s vice-captain removal exposed the management’s growing concerns around leadership pressure and consistency. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant dropped from ODI squad headlines confirmed something even bigger — India’s selectors are already reshaping their white-ball future without automatically building around him.
