Gurnoor Brar’s selection over Auqib Nabi Dar wasn’t the only surprising thing when India’s squad for the Afghanistan Test was announced. Rishabh Pant’s removal as vice-captain was the other matter most weren’t talking about. Granted, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 was on, but there still wasn’t much fuss about it.
Rishabh Pant removed as India’s Test vice-captain
Whether it was the selectors, the team management, or consensus between both, Pant was removed as Shubman Gill’s deputy, and experienced KL Rahul was bestowed with the responsibilities. But why? India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate was asked about the change and brushed it aside, stating that Pant remains a leader in the team.
“I don’t think you need a formal title to be a leader in a lead set-up like this. I think Rishabh understands that, and I think he’s committed to being a good role model and a senior player,” Ryan told reporters on June 4.
On the eve of the India vs Afghanistan Test, India head coach Gautam Gambhir came out to address the media in Mullanpur. As expected, he was asked the question about Pant’s removal. Unlike Ryan, Gambhir spoke about the matter in more depth and hinted at the reasoning behind Rahul’s appointment.
“See, responsibility is only for playing for India. The rest of everything else is a by-product. When you start playing for India, you don’t think about being a vice-captain. You think about doing good for India. So going from one to the other is only a by-product. And ultimately, everyone is judged on performance. Be it me, be it the support staff, be it any player. Ultimately, that is what international cricket is all about. And as far as Rishabh is concerned, we will expect him to be the way he is,” Gambhir told reporters in the pre-match press conference.
What’s the reason behind it?
At last, the India head coach said something that could be the reason behind Pant’s removal. On a few occasions, the wicketkeeper batter has played what some call a ‘rash shot’. The commentators go after him for that. It looks like even Gambhir believes Pant hasn’t played the situation well at times.
It might seem shocking to a less-observant viewer that Pant hasn’t made a mistake. But that’s his style as an aggressive player. To hit bowlers off their line, lengths and plans, the wicketkeeper charges at them or hits reverse sweeps, scoops and whatnot. It’s what has made him successful, and the management doesn’t want Pant to change as a batter, but perhaps they don’t want that from their vice-captain or believe his aggressive instincts are curbed because of that responsibility.
“It’s not like we will tell him that you have to curb your game. But in international cricket, it is very important to play the situation. It is important to read the situation. At that time, what kind of situation the team is in, what kind of situation it demands, and what kind of shot to play. But it’s not like any player has been told to play a completely different game than their natural game. Be it test cricket, one-day cricket, or T20 cricket. The ultimate aim is to make a run and take a wicket. You can never lose that. No matter how you make it, it’s up to you,” he added.
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