Despite being a match-winner for India in Tests, Pant has been unable to establish himself in the white-ball setup. Though he\u2019s played 31 ODIs and 76 T20Is, Pant last played both white-ball formats for India in 2024. He was an unused member of the 2025 Men\u2019s Champions Trophy-winning Indian team, before being left out of the ODI team from the series against Afghanistan in June. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe is my favourite player. I think what Rishabh has done is that he\u2019s playing well and scoring tremendously in the Test matches. No, no, he is working hard. Dhruv Jurel is doing well; Sanju Samson is there. But Rishabh has that x-factor. What I feel and think is that he\u2019s slowly maturing. You are talking about the white ball side of things, but it\u2019s even true in the case of IPL,\u201d Raina said to Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite Pant\u2019s established pedigree in the longest format of the game, his consistency in white-ball international cricket has drawn scrutiny. \u201cI think he has done really well, as everyone knows, as far as Test matches are concerned. But why is the same not happening in T20Is or ODIs?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIs he looking for something in his mind? What is it? I think he needs to figure out how to pace an innings there. In the Test matches, he used to play without any hesitation. Now if he has to hit a six there, he will hit on the very first ball,\u201d noted Raina.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former left-handed batter, who was a member of the teams that won the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy, suggested that being free in his batting style can help Pant, who didn\u2019t have memorable IPL 2025 and 2026 campaigns with Lucknow Super Giants before moving back to Delhi Capitals right after this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIs he looking for something in his mind? What is it? I think he needs to figure out how to pace an innings there. In the Test matches, he used to play without any hesitation. Now if he has to hit a six there, he will hit on the very first ball,\u201d noted Raina.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe needs to be free in his style. He can achieve a lot. In the future, I think, God willing, he will do well because he has gone through so much - his setback and all. He will do it one day \u2013 his time will come,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\r\n\r\n