Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has opened up about wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant losing the Test vice-captaincy ahead of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The decision surprised many fans after the selection committee replaced Pant as the deputy in India’s red-ball setup.<\/p>\n
\n
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
India will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, from June 6 to June 10. The selectors have named a 15-member squad for the match, with Shubman Gill leading the side and KL Rahul serving as vice-captain.<\/p>\n
Responsibility Is Only for Playing for India – Gautam Gambhir on Rishabh Pant<\/h2>\n
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Gautam Gambhir said that leadership positions should not be a player’s main focus. He added that representing India is the biggest responsibility and that roles such as vice-captaincy are secondary.<\/p>\n
\n
![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/static.cricketaddictor.com\/assets\/images\/newad4.jpeg\")
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cSee, responsibility is only for playing for India. The rest of everything else is a by-product. When you start playing for India, you don’t think about being a vice-captain. You think about doing good for India,\u201d Gambhir told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo going from one to the other is only a by-product. And ultimately, everyone is judged on performance. Be it me, be it the support staff, be it any player. Ultimately, that is what international cricket is all about. And as far as Rishabh is concerned, we will expect him to be the way he is,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Pant struggled with Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2026. The left-handed batter also had a disappointing Test series in South Africa, where he scored 49 runs at an average of 12.25 in four innings as India lost the series 0-2.<\/p>\n
\n
![\"Cricket](\"https:\/\/static.cricketaddictor.com\/assets\/images\/newad3.jpeg\")
\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
In International Cricket, It Is Very Important to Play the Situation – Gautam Gambhir<\/h2>\n
Gautam Gambhir said that India do not want Rishabh Pant to change his natural style of play. However, the head coach stated that players must understand match situations and make better decisions at the international level.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s not like we will tell him that you have to curb your game. But in international cricket, it is very important to play the situation. It is important to read the situation. At that time, what kind of situation the team is in, what kind of situation it demands and what kind of shot to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it’s not like any player has been told to play a completely different game than their natural game. Be it Test cricket, one-day cricket, or T20 cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gambhir’s comments come after Pant faced criticism for his shot selection during the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati. The wicketkeeper-batter threw away his wicket at a crucial stage of the match. Pant had captained India in that Test, which ended in a 408-run defeat.<\/p>\n
The Ultimate Aim Is to Make Runs and Take Wickets – Gautam Gambhir<\/h2>\n
Gautam Gambhir said that regardless of format, every player must focus on contributing to the team’s success. The India head coach stated that scoring runs and taking wickets remain the most important aspects of the game, and players should be willing to adapt to different situations.<\/p>\n
“The ultimate aim is to make a run and take a wicket. You can never lose that. No matter how you make it, it’s up to you.”<\/p>\n
Despite his struggles in the Test series against South Africa, Pant had an excellent year overall. He scored 629 runs in seven Tests at an average of 48.38. During India’s Test tour of England, Pant amassed 479 runs in four matches at an average of 68.42, including two centuries and three fifties.<\/p>\n