“Why didn’t they play Pant at four?”

Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member squad for the ODI series against New Zealand. The cricketer-turned-commentator said the ax of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma was justified as Shreyas Iyer and skipper Shubman Gill returned to the 50-over team after recovering from injuries.

However, the 48-year-old expressed his surprise at the Men in Blue ignoring Rishabh Pant in the playing XI during the three-match ODI series against South Africa. While Gaikwad finally grabbed a chance with his maiden ODI century in the last match, Chopra feels Team India missed a trick by ignoring Rishabh Pant in the XI.

Aakash Chopra wrote on X:

“Ruturaj is out because Iyer is back. So is Tilak because Gill is back. This begs the question – why didn’t they play Pant at number four when they had the chance against South Africa? Since you continue with him as a back-up keeper, it would make more sense to play him in Iyer’s absence.”

Pant played his last ODI against Sri Lanka in August 2024. Since then, he has been warming the bench as a stand-in wicket-keeper for KL Rahul.

At number four, Pant amassed 498 runs in 17 innings at an average of 31.12, including one ton and a fifty. Overall, the left-handed batsman scored 871 runs in 31 ODIs (27 innings) at an average of 33.5, including a ton and five half-centuries.

“Does he always warm the bench?” – Aakash Chopra criticizes the Indian team management ahead of the IND vs NZ 2026 ODI series

Aakash Chopra also questioned the team management for ignoring all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy in the playing XI. The former opener urged the team to give him a chance so that he can perform in Hardik Pandya’s absence. He wrote in the same post:

“Also, if NKR is indispensable…why doesn’t he get a game? Even when Team India is playing with 3 players?? Will he play now?? With four players? How can you prepare for the future (read about Pandya’s absence) when he is always warming the bench?”

Nitish Kumar Reddy made his ODI debut against Australia last year. However, he warmed the bench during the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

Notably, Pandya was rested for the ODI series against New Zealand to manage his workload ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 32-year-old will miss his third consecutive 50-over series.