Pant Dropped From ODI Squad, Rahul Named Vice-Captain For Afghanistan Series

India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a major setback on Tuesday after being removed as vice-captain of the Indian Test side and dropped from the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan, with selectors signalling the need for him to rediscover his best form in international cricket.

The Ajit Agarkar-led senior selection committee announced India’s squads for the one-off Test and three-match ODI series to be played in June. The Test match will begin in Mullanpur on June 6, while the ODI series will be held in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai from June 14 onwards.

While Pant retained his place in the Test squad, veteran batter KL Rahul was appointed the new Test vice-captain under skipper Shubman Gill. Pant was also excluded from the ODI squad, where Rahul and Ishan Kishan were selected as the two wicketkeeping options.

Pant’s recent struggles, particularly during the IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, are understood to have influenced the selectors’ decision. The aggressive left-hander has endured a difficult run over the past six months both as a batter and captain.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar clarified that the decision was aimed at helping Pant focus entirely on his batting in the longer format.“Rishabh is an incredible Test player. We want him to become the best Test player that he can be,” Agarkar said during a virtual media interaction, while insisting there was no threat to Pant’s place in the Test team.

Agarkar also explained that Rahul’s experience made him the preferred choice for the vice-captaincy role at this stage. Rahul has previously captained India in Tests and recently impressed during overseas assignments.

The selectors also used the series to test emerging talent, particularly in the spin department. Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey earned Test call-ups, while towering Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar was also included despite limited first-class experience. Both Suthar and Brar are associated with Gujarat Titans in the IPL.

Dubey was additionally picked in the ODI squad, indicating that selectors view him as a potential white-ball spin-bowling all-rounder for future assignments. Young pacer Prince Yadav also received his maiden ODI call-up.

Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was rested for the Test match as the team management looked to assess younger spin options ahead of future tours and the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle. However, Agarkar reiterated that Jadeja remains India’s first-choice spinner in Test cricket.

In contrast, Axar Patel was dropped from both squads. Reports suggest his declining batting form and inability to extract sufficient turn from pitches contributed to his omission.

The selectors also continued to show faith in all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, with Agarkar praising his steady improvement as a bowler and describing him as a potentially “critical” member of India’s future plans.

Meanwhile, senior stars Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were included in the ODI squad subject to fitness clearance . Agarkar said a final decision on their availability would be taken closer to the series if required.

Squads

Test Squad:

Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.

ODI Squad:

Shubman Gill (captain), Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar.