Chopra Questions India’s ODI Selection as Pant Stays Benched
The former opener says inconsistent choices have left Pant in squads without a defined role.
Overview
- Rishabh Pant has not played an ODI since August 2024 yet was retained in India’s 15-member squad for the New Zealand series announced on January 2.
- Aakash Chopra called Pant a generational talent while noting his modest limited-overs returns of 871 ODI runs at 33.50 with a 106.21 strike rate from 31 matches.
- Chopra highlighted the South Africa series as a missed chance to assess Pant, as he was not picked even with Shreyas Iyer absent.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad, used at No. 4 against South Africa and scorer of a 105 in the second ODI, was then left out of the New Zealand ODI squad.
- Chopra argued selectors and team management appear misaligned, with India’s ODI series against New Zealand beginning January 11 in Vadodara.