Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has urged the national selectors not to write off Rishabh Pant’s white-ball future despite the wicketkeeper-batter’s omission from India’s latest ODI plans ahead of the 2027 Cricket World Cup. With India beginning their preparations for the next ODI World Cup through the upcoming series against Afghanistan, discussions around squad composition and long-term planning have intensified.

One of the biggest talking points has been Pant’s absence, especially after a difficult run in limited-overs cricket over the last two years. The left-handed batter endured another challenging IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants in 2026. Despite being signed for a record ₹27 crore, Pant struggled to make a significant impact, scoring only 312 runs in 14 matches. Lucknow finished at the bottom of the table, and mounting pressure eventually led to Pant stepping down as captain.

However, Irfan Pathan believes it would be premature to close the door on a player who has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to bounce back from setbacks. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pathan acknowledged that KL Rahul currently remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs due to his consistency and flexibility in the middle order. “KL Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in ODIs. He has done well at numbers five and six. He is versatile,” Pathan said.

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The former India star also praised the selection of Ishan Kishan as the backup wicketkeeper, highlighting his aggressive batting style and ability to counter pace bowling.

“As a backup, the selectors have brought in Ishan Kishan. Ishan can bat higher up the order and plays the short ball well square of the wicket. That is a smart selection,” he added. Irfan Pathan further suggested that Sanju Samson remains firmly in contention as another wicketkeeping option after delivering whenever opportunities have come his way. “Whenever he has got a chance, he has delivered. We saw that in the T20 World Cup,” Pathan noted.

Despite Pant slipping down the pecking order, Pathan feels the 27-year-old still has plenty to offer Indian cricket. He pointed to Ishan Kishan’s successful comeback story as an example Pant can follow.

“Now, about Rishabh Pant, my suggestion to the selectors is not to completely ignore him. Yes, he has fallen behind in white-ball cricket. His form has not been great,” Irfan Pathan explained. “But look at Ishan Kishan. He was out of the team too, but he used that as motivation. He played domestic cricket, performed well, and led Jharkhand to a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win as captain. Rishabh should take inspiration from Ishan and keep working hard. He should not lose hope of making a comeback in white-ball cricket.”

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Pant recently reminded everyone of his quality in the longest format when he scored a composed 81 against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh. While his white-ball future remains uncertain, Pathan believes India’s match-winner still deserves consideration as the team builds toward the 2027 World Cup.