Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is one of the most entertaining players in the world. The 29-year-old, though, hasn’t managed to crack the code of white-ball cricket and has been out of the ODI and T20I sides. In fact, his last game in both formats came during the 2024 tour of Sri Lanka.

Pant’s place in the Test side for now can be considered safe, thanks to his cavalier approach with the bat, which has changed many games.

But the player cannot heave a sigh of relief with Ishan KishanDhruv Jurel, and most recently Kumar Kushagra sniffing around for a chance.

One man who has seen Pant grow as a cricketer is none other than former India head coach Ravi Shastri. The 64-year-old, during his chat with the Times of India, urged the Delhi Capitals star to remain smart.

“I haven’t told Pant anything other than to be smart. He has immense ability and shouldn’t change his natural game and be aware of the match situation.”

Pant’s white-ball career so far

It has been eight years since the southpaw made his ODI debut and has managed to play just 31 games. He played 12 games each in 2019 and 2022 and didn’t play any matches in 2023 due to his rehab after his accident. In 2024, he played just one match where he scored six runs, and since then he hasn’t had any game time despite being in the squad.

KL Rahul has become India’s number one wicketkeeper choice in the fifty-over format. He has also batted as an opener and been slotted in the key middle-order slots. But the biggest problem Rishabh has faced is that he is unable to contain himself and not play extravagant shots in a tense situation.

The same is the case in the T20I format, with the cricketer having played 66 games and notched up 1209 runs.

The lack of game time and his own batting have contributed to his exit from the side. His last fifty came during the home series against West Indies, after which he has played 33 games, with a best of 49 against Sri Lanka in 2024.

Sanju Samson’s current form and Ishan’s blazing batting have all but ended Pant’s chances of a recall for the foreseeable future. He will have to script big performances in domestic cricket and IPL if he wants to earn a recall and become the number one choice again.