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Rishabh Pant wasn’t picked in India’s T20I squad for the upcoming five-match series against England at home.
Sanju Samson (left) and Rishabh Pant during a training session. (PTI Photo)
Less than a year after winning the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with India, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant hasn’t found a place in the team’s five-match series with England starting later this month. The BCCI announced a 15-man squad for the series on Saturday which features the likes of Sanju Samson as the first-choice wicketkeeper and Dhruv Jurel as his backup.
India have played 15 T20Is since the world cup triumph last year with Pant featuring in just two of them because of either rest or being kept fresh for the Test assignments.
Pant was part of India’s Australia tour which ended recently, playing in all five Tests as the visitors suffered a 1-3 series defeat.
In Pant’s absence, Samson has grabbed the opportunity having scored three centuries in his last five T20Is while opening the innings.
With India set to announce their squad for the next month’s Champions Trophy, speculations are rife whether Pant will make the cut ahead of Samson as the backup ‘keeper with KL Rahul expected to be the first choice given how admirably he performed the duties of a wicketkeeper-batter during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra though has warned against sidelining generational talent Pant from India’s white-ball squads even despite Samson’s recent form.
Sirf stats dekhte toh Sanju was averaging under 20 in T20i before he was pushed as an opener. The thinking was potential and promise. And he’s done wonders at the top 😍Pant is a generational talent…I feel sidelining him for white-ball cricket completely will be a mistake. https://t.co/kZeTdzKRll— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 12, 2025
Chopra was replying to a query on social media about the potential preference Pant could get ahead of Samson as India’s choice for the backup wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy.
“Sirf stats dekhte toh Sanju was averaging under 20 in T20i before he was pushed as an opener (If you go by the stats then Samson was averaging under 20 before being pushed as an opener). The thinking was potential and promise. And he’s done wonders at the top Pant is a generational talent…I feel sidelining him for white-ball cricket completely will be a mistake,” Chopra wrote.
Before the Champions Trophy, India will play three ODIs against England at home.