Rishabh Pant’s name is missing from India’s ODI squad for the West Indies series. On the same day, his name appears as captain of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup.
Two lists. Two formats. One very clear signal.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes this is no coincidence. In his view, the selectors have drawn a firm line around Pant’s immediate future in white-ball cricket.
“A very strange and very unique case,” Chopra told Jio Star, summing up the wicketkeeper-batter’s situation in a single phrase.
Pillar in Tests, Passenger in ODIs
Pant remains central to India’s red-ball plans. He’s back in the Test set-up, still regarded as a match-winner, still the kind of player who can turn a session on its head. Yet even there, there has been a quiet shift: he has been removed from vice-captaincy duties.
The contrast with his 50-over status is stark. Pant has played just one ODI in the last four years. Now, as India begin a long build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, his name is nowhere near the squad.
“In ODI cricket, without playing, he’s been bid goodbye,” Chopra said, underlining how ruthless the call feels.
The Irani Cup captaincy, though, tells a different story. Handing Pant the Rest of India armband is a strong endorsement of his place in the longer format. It positions him not just as a player, but as a leader in red-ball cricket.
“With respect to red-ball cricket, they are very serious about Rishabh playing a huge role in the longer format. But for white-ball cricket, as of now, I think this selection committee has made up its mind,” Chopra added.
ODI Door Closing as World Cup Cycle Begins
India’s three-match ODI series against the West Indies — in Thiruvananthapuram (September 27), Guwahati (September 30) and New Chandigarh (October 3) — marks the first clear step in planning for 2027.
Shubman Gill will lead the side. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in the 15, providing experience around a younger core. KL Rahul has been named vice-captain, stepping into a role that once seemed destined for Pant. Dhruv Jurel is among the keeping options, while Shreyas Iyer, whom Rahul replaces as deputy, heads to the Asian Games campaign.
Pant, meanwhile, is out of both the ODI and T20I frame. He was dropped from the T20I set-up after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, and his absence from the ODI squad now stretches into a pattern rather than a one-off omission.
For a player once tipped as India’s all-format constant, the white-ball silence is deafening.
Jaiswal, Gaikwad and the Battle for 2027
If Pant is slipping out of the ODI conversation, others are fighting to get in — and stay in.
“You have to think about who you can take along as reserves for the World Cup,” Chopra said, turning his attention to the wider pool.
He flagged a looming shootout between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, both included for the West Indies series and both prolific whenever given a chance.
“There will be a toss-up here between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are both part of this team, and whenever they’ve played, they’ve scored a lot of runs. So, I’m looking at an opportunity opening up for one of these two,” he noted.
Runs now will not just earn series wins. They will shape careers across an entire World Cup cycle.
Chopra also highlighted fast bowler Auqib Nabi, who has been travelling with the squad but waiting on the fringes of the XI.
“Auqib Nabi has been travelling with the team for some time now but isn’t getting a chance to play in the XI. If he gets his opportunity, I’ll be quite excited to see him perform,” Chopra said.
One breakthrough spell from Nabi, one big series from Jaiswal or Gaikwad — those are the margins that decide who boards the World Cup flight and who watches from home.
Pant knows that reality as well as anyone. This time, though, he’s watching it unfold from a different doorway: the one that leads firmly back into Test cricket, while the white-ball corridor narrows with every passing series.
