Is this the end of the road for Rishabh Pant in white-ball cricket? India and Wisconsin squads, despite Kishan’s absence, raise eyebrows

Rishabh Pant’s path back into the Indian ODI team has become more difficult after the wicketkeeper was overlooked for the three-match home series against the West Indies. The selection decision was made despite Ishan Kishan’s absence from the ODI squad due to his Asian Games commitments, and the selectors instead selected Dhruv Jurel to provide cover for first-time wicketkeeper KL. Rahula.

For a player who was once considered MS Dhoni’s successor across formats, the latest development represents yet another setback in his limited overs career. Pant remains part of India’s Test plans but his position in white-ball cricket has changed significantly since he returned from serious injuries sustained in a car accident.

Second world championship in a row is in doubt

Pant’s ODI journey has already been disrupted due to injuries and selection issues. He featured in the 2019 ODI World Cup but was unable to participate in India’s 2023 campaign due to a car accident. The latest omission means the 2027 World Cup will be another major tournament he could potentially miss. Pant was also absent from India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup after losing his place in the format to Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson.

His ODI figures highlight how limited his innings have been. The 28-year-old made his ODI debut in 2018 and has appeared in just 31 matches, scoring 871 runs at an average of 33.50. He last played in ODIs in 2024. He was selected in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad but did not feature in the match.

IPL numbers didn’t help

Pant’s recent IPL campaigns have yielded mixed returns. In 2025, he scored 269 runs in 14 innings, with an unbeaten 118 in his last league match being his best achievement.

The following season there were 312 runs in 14 matches, including an unbeaten 68 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, his highest score. In these two IPL seasons, Pant finished with 581 runs in 28 matches.

Its 2025 auction price has also brought huge attention to its performance. Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at that time. Pant subsequently returned to Delhi Capitals in a trade deal after the 2026 season.

The selection of Jurel becomes especially important as Pant had a potential vacancy and Kishan was unavailable. Instead, India retained Rahul as the main wicketkeeper option and selected Jurel as the backup.

The Indian ODI team led by Shubman Gill and K.L. Rahul as vice-captain, the team also includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnur Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqeeb Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Naman Dhir.

The decision also comes at a time when the selectors have shown a willingness to bring back experienced players like Jadeja while giving opportunities to new players.

Immediate Pant opportunity

Pant won’t have to wait long for competitive cricket. He was named captain of the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup against 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir, with Sarfaraz Khan as his deputy. The match will be played from October 1 to 5 at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. This appointment gives Pant an important domestic platform to score runs and gain momentum. However, with Rahul firmly established as the ODI wicket-keeper and Jurel now his deputy for the West Indies series, Pant’s next innings in the Indian 50-man team is no longer an easy one.

Therefore, his immediate task is clear: to produce results that will force the selectors to reconsider the current wicket pecking order.