Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the team’s think tank for their utilization of Rishabh Pant ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand. Pant has been picked in the ODI squad as a backup wicket-keeper to KL Rahul for the New Zealand ODIs.

However, Pant didn’t get his chance in the ODI series against South Africa despite the absence of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. Chopra noted that Pant hasn’t played an ODI since 2023 and expressed his surprise over the wicket-keeper’s exclusion.

“Rishabh Pant hasn’t played ODIs since 2023, but he remains part of the team. He is a generational talent. His numbers aren’t that good in ODIs and T20Is as of now. That is also a reality. However, not playing him a single match since 2023, but keeping him with the team says that I am not the only one who is saying that he is a good player. The team is also saying the same thing. However, when it’s his turn to play, you don’t play him,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Then, when the next chance comes, it’s always a discussion issue as to why Rishabh Pant should be played. When there was a chance to play, you could have played him. You could have played him in all three matches, and if he had done well, he would have remained with the team, or else you could have said that he is not in your scheme of things as he didn’t do well. You didn’t give him a chance at all, and a chance won’t come now,” he added.

Pant has scored 871 runs in 27 ODI innings at an average of 33.5 and thus he has failed to live up to the lofty expectations.

The renowned commentator questioned the team management for playing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the ODI series against South Africa and then not backing him against New Zealand.

“You are making someone roam around with the team, but you are not giving him a chance. The guy you played, you played him out of position, and you dropped him even though he scored runs. Two plus two is not becoming four. Your math is not mathing,” he said.

Chopra also wondered if the selectors and the team management are on the same page regarding the team combination.

“It seems like the selectors are thinking something and the team management is thinking something else. The selectors might be saying that they have kept Ruturaj as an opening backup, but the team management says they would play him at No. 4, play Tilak Varma, and play Washington Sundar at No. 5, but won’t play Rishabh Pant. It is not working out,” Chopra observed.

The first ODI between India and New Zealand will be played on 11th January.