India squad signals uneasy transition: Rohit under pressure, Pant’s white-ball future in doubt?

International cricket is back in discussion within Indian cricket circles after nearly two months of Indian Premier League action, with chief selector Ajit Agarkar unveiling India’s squads for the multi-format series against Afghanistan that takes place next month. IPL playoff scenarios and title favourites were the hot topics among fans and experts alike until Agarkar’s announcement on Tuesday, in which some of the decisions were on expected lines and others were a bit of a curveball.

Here are some of the key takeaways from India’s squad announcement for the one-off Test and the three-match ODI series that gets underway in the first week of June:

Are domestic exploits being ignored?

One of the biggest talking points concerning India’s squads for the Afghanistan series is the absence of Auqib Nabi, who had starred in Jammu and Kashmir’s historic Ranji Trophy triumph earlier this year with 60 wickets at an average of 12.56, and was expected to earn a Test call-up in the near future.

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The selection committee has included quite a few fresh faces across both squads, with Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar earning a maiden Test call-up along with left-arm spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar. Brar has also earned a maiden ODI call-up along with Delhi pacer Prince Yadav, who has been among Lucknow Super Giants’ standout performers in the ongoing IPL season.

However, to overlook the top-performing bowler in the country’s premier domestic First-Class competition while picking a Test squad certainly sends the wrong signal to youngsters and others grinding it out at that level.

Pant out of white-ball picture... for now

There were reports of Rishabh Pant being removed from the role of Test vice-captain in the build-up to Tuesday’s squad announcement, and that indeed turned out to be the case with the team management and selectors entrusting veteran keeper-batter and Test opener KL Rahul with that role.

That, however, wasn’t the only bit of bad news for Pant on Tuesday, as he was also left out of the ODI squad, with Ishan Kishan – who had made a triumphant return to the T20I team recently – replacing him as the back-up keeper in the 50-over format.

Pant had been out of the T20I picture since 2024 but had managed to retain his place in the ODI squad as Rahul’s back-up, including at last year’s ICC Champions Trophy. But with the LSG captain out of the ODI setup as well, Pant’s days of wearing the blue jersey have come to a screeching halt for now, and he has no option but to reinvent himself to get back into either of those teams.

Rohit walking a tight-rope

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli remain part of the ODI setup for now, and their dream of representing the country one last time at next year’s ICC World Cup remains intact for now. However, while Kohli has been a run-machine of late, in ODIs as well as for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, Rohit had a barren run during the 50-over series against New Zealand in January. Let’s also not forget the fitness issues that he has had while playing for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL.

Both Rohit and Kohli had silenced their critics with a match-winning partnership against Australia in Sydney last year, and were among the leading run-scorers against South Africa at home shortly after. However, the two stalwarts share a disadvantage that others in the team don’t necessarily relate to – age.

Rohit turned 39 just last month, and will have to be on top of his game in every series going forward if he is to keep his World Cup dream alive. Another poor series, coupled with his fitness issues, could force head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Agarkar to finally show him the door.

End of the road for Shami?

While Rohit walks on a tight-rope at the moment, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has been sidelined by the team management and selectors for well over a year now. The Bengal pacer had last represented India at the Champions Trophy last year but just hasn’t been able to impress the selectors enough to find a place in any of India’s squads.

Mohammed Shami last played for India in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Reuters

And with the 35-year-old getting overlooked for the upcoming Afghanistan series as well, the message from Gambhir and Agarkar is crystal clear – that Shami might be among India’s greatest pacers but will not be part of their plans at any point in the near future.

Shami had an impressive Ranji season recently but impressive simply won’t cut it with the current management.

DDP for Test No 3?

It’s been over two years since Devdutt Padikkal represented India in any format, having played two matches under Rohit Sharma’s leadership during the five-Test series against England in early 2024. Padikkal’s return to the Indian Test squad, however, comes at a time when the 25-year-old has made a strong case to be backed for the No 3 role after a stellar run in the Ranji Trophy.

Padiikkal had, after all, amassed 543 runs in six outings at a stellar average of 60.33 at the one-down spot while leading Karnataka into the final, where the eight-time champions lost to Jammu and Kashmir.

Devdutt Padikkal had amassed 543 runs at the Ranji Trophy at an average of 60.33 while leading Karnataka into the final. Image: PTI

As far as the Indian Test batting lineup is concerned, Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are firmly set as the opening pair while Shubman Gill has succeeded the legendary Virat Kohli at the No 4 spot. However, it is the No 3 position where doubts continue to linger.

The team management has largely backed star B Sai Sudharsan for that role, but the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat Titans batter hasn’t been as consistent as the team would have hoped for. Padikkal’s Karnataka teammate Karun Nair also got plenty of chances during the tour of England last year, but failed to make the opportunity count.

With Padikkal in good nick at the moment, it remains to be seen if he’s picked for the one-off Test in Chandigarh ahead of Sudharsan, and whether he can hold on to that role on a long-term basis or not.