Rishabh Pant's White-Ball Future Uncertain as India Look Ahead to 2027
Once tipped as MS Dhoni's successor across formats, Rishabh Pant faces an uphill battle in India's ODI setup after being left out of the West Indies series.
Rishabh Pant’s position in India’s limited-overs hierarchy has hit another roadblock, leaving his long-term future in white-ball cricket increasingly uncertain.
Once earmarked as MS Dhoni’s natural heir across all three formats, the explosive wicketkeeper-batsman has been left out of India’s One-Day International squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies.
The exclusion signals a deliberate shift by the national selection committee and team management, who are actively exploring alternative middle-order setups ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
While Pant remains an irreplaceable asset in Test match cricket, his white-ball numbers have struggled to justify guaranteed selection in recent bilateral assignments.
Competitors for the wicketkeeper-batter role, notably KL Rahul and Sanju Samson, have seized their limited opportunities, pushing Pant further down the line in 50-over cricket.
With selectors prioritizing middle-order consistency and clear tactical roles, Pant faces a crucial stretch where dominant domestic and IPL campaigns will be essential to rebuild his ODI standing.