When it comes to Tests, India have a dependable keeper-batter in Rishabh Pant, who has taken over rather well, ever since MS Dhoni called it a day. He has played 43 Tests till now, where he has scored 2948 runs at an average of 42, including six tons and 15 fifties. To add to that, he has been solid behind the wickets too — taking 149 catches, and effecting 15 stumpings.
Certain in India Squad, But Rishabh Pant Struggling for Form
But despite being a sure shot in the Indian team for the England tour, he first definitely needed to be a part of the India A squad, touring England. In the last few months, his batting form has visibly dipped and that is a major concern for Team India.
Let’s break this down further. Even though he was decent in the Bangladesh and New Zealand series, Australia tour was a poor one. Against Bangladesh, he scored his last international ton, where he got 109 in one of the matches. He finished the series with 161 runs in four innings. Average of 53 was largely on account of this century. Then, even though he was the top run-getter in the New Zealand series too, scoring 261 in three matches, he could not come up with a big score in time of need, as India succumbed 0-3 at home.
Poor IPL 2025 After Disastrous AUS Tour
And then, the series Down Under was a complete disaster. In 5 matches, he scored 255 runs only at an average of 28. That included only one fifty. This is in stark contrast to what he managed in the previous tour — 3 matches, 274 runs at an average of 68, including two fifties. If we go further, in 9 Tests in 2024, he scored 576 runs only at an average of 36. So, that is where the problem lies.
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s | Strike-rate |
| 12 | 135 | 12.27 | 1 | 0 | 100 |
Should Have been In India A Squad
Currently too, leading LSG in IPL 2025, the going has been tough for Pant. Yes, the formats are totally different, but bad form here in India, can certainly have a bearing in England in Tests. In 12 matches, 135 runs is all he has managed at an average of 12, and a strike-rate of 100. The frustration is even visible on his.
It remains unclear; if Shubman Gill could be picked for the India A matches, after the 1st encounter, why couldn’t Rishabh Pant be picked? Getting used to the English conditions is what the player needs badly. Even though the 27-year-old has two hundreds in the nation, but his overall records are not that impressive.
| Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s | HS |
| 9 | 556 | 32.70 | 2 | 2 | 146 |
In 17 innings, Pant has 556 runs at an average of 32.70 including two tons and two fifties. And given that there would be no Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Tests, selectors should have included him in the IND A squad too.
India A Squad for England Tour: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan, Manav Suthar, Tanush Kotian, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sarfaraz Khan, Tushar Deshpande, Harsh Dubey.
After 1st Match: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan.
The post Rishabh Pant needed to be India A squad, poor form in IPL could have a bearing in England appeared first on Inside Sport India.