Former Australia Test captain Tim Paine has backed Rishabh Pant to make a strong comeback to India’s white-ball teams, provided the wicketkeeper-batter can rediscover his form. Paine, who is currently involved with Australia A, is in India for the team’s four-day clash against India A in Puducherry, beginning on Tuesday, September 22. His comments come after Pant was left out of India’s ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies.
Pant’s omission has raised questions over his white-ball future. The left-hander has already been out of India’s T20I plans for more than two years, having last featured in the format during the Sri Lanka tour in July 2024. His latest ODI omission adds another layer of uncertainty, although he remains an important part of India’s Test setup.
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has continued to show its faith in Pant in red-ball cricket by handing him the captaincy of the Rest of India side for the Irani Cup against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir. The move underlines the distinction between Pant’s current status in Test cricket and his position in India’s white-ball plans.
Paine believes Pant’s form will ultimately determine whether he can return to the limited-overs setup. While he pointed towards the wicketkeeper’s recent IPL performances, the former Australian captain remains convinced that Pant possesses the ability to become a match-winner in white-ball cricket once again. “I haven’t watched enough of his white-ball cricket to say. I know his IPL over the last couple of years hasn’t been brilliant, but if he’s playing well, he could be playing in most white-ball teams around the world.”
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Tim Paine added that Pant needs to rediscover the form that made him such a dangerous batter across formats. “It’s probably about capturing that form again and taking his red-ball cricket into white-ball cricket. There’s no reason why someone as skilled and talented as him, if he’s playing well, wouldn’t be a fantastic white-ball player.”
The Australian also recalled Pant’s memorable performance at the Gabba in January 2021. Pant scored an unbeaten 89 off 138 balls as India chased down 328 to beat Australia by three wickets and secure a famous 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victory.
The innings also ended Australia’s 32-year unbeaten Test record at the Gabba. Paine was particularly impressed by Pant’s fearless approach against Australia’s leading bowlers.“I loved the way he came to Australia and played, how aggressive and confident he was. That’s something we’re trying to instil in this young group, the belief that you can go out and change games.”
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He further highlighted how Pant’s attacking intent disrupted Australia’s plans. “That’s what Rishabh did against high-class bowlers. He threw them off their lines and lengths and put them under pressure. It was a great way to play, and a lot of the time I try and encourage our players to do the same thing.”
For now, Pant remains firmly involved in India’s Test plans, while his white-ball future will depend largely on his performances and ability to regain his best form.
