Rishabh Pant has not played an ODI since July 2024 [Source: x]Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has indirectly taken a dig at Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar for not playing Rishabh Pant in ODIs, even when they had the opportunity. The maverick batter last played an ODI in 2024, and since then, he hasn't been a regular feature.Pant’s exclusion from the ODI squad vs the West Indies surprised everyone. He was not picked in the side despite the fact that several of the key players are playing in the Asian Games, and the team could have picked a left-handed batter in the middle order.Aakash Chopra indirectly slams Gambhir, Agarkar for neglecting PantSpeaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra was critical of Pant’s ODI treatment as he questioned Agarkar (chief selector), and Gambhir (head coach) for not sidelining the left-handed batter despite him not doing anything wrong."It looks like the management has already made up their mind on his white-ball future. You do feel that it's not fair. He has played only one ODI in three years. He was part of the 2025 Champions Trophy squad but did not play. Also Read: Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant For 2027 World Cup After New Selection Committee? Aakash Chopra BelievesYet, the team won while he was warming the bench. There was an opportunity for him to play against South Africa, but they played Ruturaj Gaikwad in the middle order instead, Now he has been dropped altogether from the ODI squad.Was Pant not good enough to play? Chopra asks a harsh questionChopra quizzed Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, as he asked them why Pant was kept in the scheme of things if they felt he was not good enough to be picked in the playing XI."He has also been stripped of vice-captaincy in Tests. So he has clearly been demoted. It seems unfair to me because he has not been given enough opportunities in ODIs to make up your mind. One match in three years is not good enough. Why did you keep him in the scheme of things if you felt he wasn't good enough?"Pant just played a solitary ODI match against Sri Lanka in 2024, and after one failure, he was entirely removed from the playing XI.Were Gambhir, Agarkar right in sidelining Pant?Unlike his Test career that has blossomed, Pant’s ODI journey has not gone anywhere. In Tests, Pant has become an integral member of the team; however, in ODIs, things are different.Bowlers have found ways to dismiss him in ODIs, and the southpaw has not been able to work on his weakness. Pant has played 31 ODI games so far and has accumulated 871 runs, with an average of 33.50, including a solitary hundred.In the last two ODI series that he took part in, Pant averaged 6.00, and 12.50, and failed to deliver the goods for the team.Moreover, the Indian middle order is rather sorted, and there is no room for another inclusion. Shreyas Iyer has become a key batter at number 4, and KL Rahul is the first-choice keeper at number 5. Pant can’t bat below number 5 in ODIs, and hence, the scope of playing him in the main XI often reduces.Also Read: Major Records Shubman Gill Can Achieve In India Vs West Indies ODI Series
