Rishabh Pant Opens Up on Losing ODI Spot to KL Rahul

Rishabh Pant has spoken candidly about being overlooked for India’s one-day side, admitting the situation hurts but insisting it is only a temporary setback. The wicketkeeper-batter has not played an ODI for India in more than two years and was again left out of the squad for the upcoming West Indies series.

Pant: “A Setback Always Brings a Comeback”

Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Pant said such moments are part and parcel of an athlete’s life. He trusts his preparation and is clear about the path he wants to follow, adding that opinions are easy to offer while people should wait for results. He also feels he has not had the best opportunities to show his ability, but accepts that chances sometimes come through patience.

Pant’s ODI record is modest in volume. In 31 matches, he has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50, with five fifties and one hundred, an unbeaten 125 against England in 2022. His absence from the 2023 World Cup followed the accident that sidelined him for a year, during which KL Rahul became India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the format.

A Crowded Race for the Gloves

Competition has only intensified. Ishan Kishan, who holds the record for the fastest ODI double century, is yet to cement a place, while Dhruv Jurel is part of the West Indies ODI squad. In T20Is, Sanju Samson leads the wicketkeeping department after being named Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup. Captaining Rest of India in the Irani Cup offers Pant little consolation.

His recent IPL form has not strengthened his claim either. Pant scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17 in IPL 2025, followed by 312 runs at 28.36 and a strike rate of 138 the next season. With his Test legacy still growing, he must now turn determination into white-ball runs to force his way back.