'You feel bad': Rishabh Pant breaks silence on losing India ODI spot to KL Rahul
toi
newspoint|02-10-2026
Rishabh Pant 's Test legacy continues to grow, but his standing in India's white-ball plans has become increasingly uncertain. More than two years have passed since he last featured in an ODI for India, leaving his 50-over future unclear.
Pant has played considerably fewer ODIs than Tests and T20Is. In 31 ODI appearances, he has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50, with his best being an unbeaten 125 against England in 2022. It remains his only hundred in the format, alongside five fifties.
When India announced their squad for the West Indies ODI series, Pant was once again left out. Being named captain of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup would have offered little consolation to a player still hoping to return to India's 50-over set-up.
Pant admitted that being dropped hurts, but said setbacks are part of an athlete's journey.
“Definitely, you feel bad when something like this happens. But an athlete’s mindset allows you to feel that when there’s a setback, there is always a comeback. These are things that, as an athlete, you have to deal with in your day-to-day life. People say this happened to me, that happened to me, but for an athlete, this is part and parcel of the game. But at the same time, you know how hard you’re working, and you’re clear in your path to maintain at this level,” Pant said on the Business of Sport podcast.
“To make it happen every day, there is a voice in your head that is very constant in a very disciplined manner. The only thing is it’s easier to pass opinions all the time, but at the same time, people have to wait for things to happen.”
Pant's absence from the 2023 World Cup followed the accident that kept him out of professional cricket for a year. In his absence, KL Rahul established himself as India's primary wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs.
The competition for the wicketkeeper's slot has only grown. Ishan Kishan , despite holding the record for the fastest ODI double century, has not established himself as an integral part of India's 50-over side, while Dhruv Jurel is also part of the squad for the West Indies ODIs.
Pant's T20I prospects have also become less certain. Sanju Samson is India's primary wicketkeeper in the format and was named Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup, while Ishan has also taken up the wicketkeeping role when Samson has not been in the playing XI.
Pant has also not made a particularly strong case with the bat in his last two IPL seasons. In IPL 2025, he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17, with his campaign including a century in the final league game. In the following season, he made 312 runs at an average of 28.36 and a strike rate of 138.
Pant, however, remains determined to force his way back.
“There is no doubt that I have to make it happen, because for me, I feel like I haven’t had the best of opportunities to give my best, but at the same time, international cricket is changing. Sometimes you have to wait for the chance and make things happen,” Pant added.
Pant has played considerably fewer ODIs than Tests and T20Is. In 31 ODI appearances, he has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50, with his best being an unbeaten 125 against England in 2022. It remains his only hundred in the format, alongside five fifties.
When India announced their squad for the West Indies ODI series, Pant was once again left out. Being named captain of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup would have offered little consolation to a player still hoping to return to India's 50-over set-up.
Pant admitted that being dropped hurts, but said setbacks are part of an athlete's journey.
“Definitely, you feel bad when something like this happens. But an athlete’s mindset allows you to feel that when there’s a setback, there is always a comeback. These are things that, as an athlete, you have to deal with in your day-to-day life. People say this happened to me, that happened to me, but for an athlete, this is part and parcel of the game. But at the same time, you know how hard you’re working, and you’re clear in your path to maintain at this level,” Pant said on the Business of Sport podcast.
“To make it happen every day, there is a voice in your head that is very constant in a very disciplined manner. The only thing is it’s easier to pass opinions all the time, but at the same time, people have to wait for things to happen.”
Pant's absence from the 2023 World Cup followed the accident that kept him out of professional cricket for a year. In his absence, KL Rahul established himself as India's primary wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs.
The competition for the wicketkeeper's slot has only grown. Ishan Kishan , despite holding the record for the fastest ODI double century, has not established himself as an integral part of India's 50-over side, while Dhruv Jurel is also part of the squad for the West Indies ODIs.
Pant's T20I prospects have also become less certain. Sanju Samson is India's primary wicketkeeper in the format and was named Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup, while Ishan has also taken up the wicketkeeping role when Samson has not been in the playing XI.
Pant has also not made a particularly strong case with the bat in his last two IPL seasons. In IPL 2025, he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17, with his campaign including a century in the final league game. In the following season, he made 312 runs at an average of 28.36 and a strike rate of 138.
Pant, however, remains determined to force his way back.
“There is no doubt that I have to make it happen, because for me, I feel like I haven’t had the best of opportunities to give my best, but at the same time, international cricket is changing. Sometimes you have to wait for the chance and make things happen,” Pant added.
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