The Indian Men's Senior National Selection Committee picked the squads for the Indian team for the upcoming one-off Test and three-match ODI series against Afghanistan next month. The biggest shock in both squads came in the form of the exclusion of Rishabh Pant.
Pant was stripped of the vice-captaincy of the Test team and lost his spot as the backup wicketkeeper in ODIs. The major reason for Pant's axing in both roles seems to have come from his poor form in IPL 2026.
Rishabh Pant hadn't played ODIs since 2024
Pant is leading the Lucknow Super Giants, but they are already eliminated from playoff contention in IPL 2026.
These factors have combined in the selectors to take the aforementioned harsh decisions. Pant's track record as Test vice-captain did not make for stellar reading either.
Rishabh Pant took over as captain of India's Test team against South Africa in November 2025 when Shubman Gill was injured. India were whitewashed 0-2 in that series. Even in ODIs, although Pant was the second wicketkeeper, he did not actually play a single match in the format since August 2024. He is not part of the T20I plans either.
Also Read: India Test squad vs Afghanistan: Full breakdown of shocking exclusions and surprise inclusions
Fans react on social media
On social media sites like X, fans reacted to Pant's axing, calling it a 'downfall' among other things.
Downfall of Rishabh Pant, excluded from ODI team and removed as VC from test team.
— Adwaith (@Ha_mai_adwaith) May 19, 2026
Gurnoor getting into both squads. India are keen on HTD bowlers. Happy for Prince; picked for ODIs.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) May 19, 2026
Harsh Dubey too secures a place. Pant is no more the VC in Tests and doesn't find a place in ODIs.
Gautam Gambhir is only reason Rishabh Pant lost his vice-captaincy. https://t.co/iFSH3F3vqD
— Harshit (@I_am_Harshit_17) May 19, 2026
🚨 Rishabh Pant has been sacked from the Indian Test team Vice Captaincy, KL Rahul has replaced him. 🚨
— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) May 19, 2026
- Excellent decision from BCCI. pic.twitter.com/P6D63e7Qkn
rishabh got striped off test vice captaincy and they covered it up by dropping him from odi squad.
— sign yashvardhan dalal (@s0urav27) May 19, 2026
This is it for Rishabh Pant in LOIs I guess. T20Is it was fair enough to remove him but is damn unlucky to not be in ODI scheme of things now. https://t.co/fdxaan2sT0
— Hriday (@Hriday1812) May 19, 2026
Getting Dropped From ODI Squad Might Actually Help Rishabh Pant Right Now At Least He Can Focus On Domestic Cricket, Work On His Game & Improve Himself Instead Of Just Warming The Bench In The ODI Team
— Harsh 17 (@harsh03443) April 30, 2026
Also Read: India ODI squad for Afghanistan series: Full breakdown of surprise picks and axed stars
Rishabh Pant in IPL 2026 and ODIs
In IPL 2026, Pant continued his poor form from last year and did not impress with the bat or as a captain.
This year, he has made just 251 runs in 12 matches at an average of 27.89 and a strike rate of 138.67 despite being paid Rs. 27 crore. He has just one half-century to his name this season.
In his ODI career as a whole, he made just 871 runs in 31 matches at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106. He also has one century and 5 half-centuries in the format.
