Pant\u2019s elevation as India\u2019s vice-captain in Tests after Shubman Gill was made the new red-ball skipper last year for the tour of England was seen as a clear signal that the wicketkeeper-batter was identified as a leader-in-waiting. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Even when Gill was ruled out of the Guwahati Test against South Africa last year due to a neck injury, Pant led India, though it ended in a massive 408-run defeat, as the hosts suffered a 2-0 series loss. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the selectors\u2019 latest call while announcing the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan left everyone surprised, as Pant has now been replaced as vice-captain by KL Rahul, who\u2019s one of the current players to have captained India across all three formats. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Rishabh Pant hasn't done anything wrong. Red-ball and white-ball cricket are two very different formats. You are judging him based on the IPL, saying that he is not doing a good job as captain, that his team is losing, and that he is not scoring runs. But I believe there is no bigger match-winner for India in Tests, as a batter, than Rishabh Pant,\u201d said Kaif on JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pant\u2019s recent form as a batter and captain in IPL 2026 for Lucknow Super Giants has been a horrid one, but Kaif felt taking decisions on the basis of mixing formats is not good from the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Rishabh Pant hasn't done anything wrong. Red-ball and white-ball cricket are two very different formats. You are judging him based on the IPL, saying that he is not doing a good job as captain, that his team is losing, and that he is not scoring runs. But I believe there is no bigger match-winner for India in Tests, as a batter, than Rishabh Pant,\u201d said Kaif on JioHotstar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo, I'd want them to be consistent. Either go by form, regardless of age, and if you are scoring runs or taking wickets, you should get picked. Because I think Rishabh Pant deserved to continue as vice-captain,\" he added. <\/p>\r\n\r\n