Is Rishabh Pant's white-ball career over?

Published - 23 May 2025, 15:36 IST | Updated - 23 May 2025, 15:55 IST

The left-handed batter Rishabh Pant has been in the limelight from the early stages of his cricketing career. He is known for his fearless stroke play and game-changing knocks and was once considered a vital part in India's white-ball setup. But, his recent performances have raised questions about his role in the limited-overs formats especially after a disappointing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

In the IPL 2025 mega auction, Pant made headlines after being acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a whopping INR 27 crore. The franchise also handed him the captaincy responsibilities by hoping he would lead from the front. However, Pant failed to meet expectations both as a player and as a captain. He managed to score only 151 runs in 12 innings while struggling with his shot selection and consistency. Under the youngster’s leadership, LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs and were knocked out after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Pant’s white-ball stats for India are further under consideration. In T20 Internationals, he has an average of just 23.25, with 1,209 runs from 66 innings. In One-Day Internationals, he has scored 871 runs in 27 innings. Despite playing a few impactful innings, his overall contributions have been inconsistent in the shorter formats. In contrast, Pant's Test career has been much more excellent. He averages 42.11 in the red-ball format and has delivered in critical times under overseas conditions.

The Haridwar-born cricketer was part of the Indian squad that won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA, and the ICC 2025 Champions Trophy held in Pakistan and Dubai. The next T20 World Cup is approaching in 2026, and the selectors may be inclined to look beyond Pant for white-ball cricket after considering his recent track record.

After considering his underwhelming IPL season and inconsistent white-ball form, Pant's future in India’s limited-overs setup is doubtful. Even though his name remains prominent in Test cricket, his days in the white-ball format could be getting closer to an end stage unless he displays a significant comeback.