The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has has not picked up star wicketkeeper batsman, Rishabh Pant for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka amid speculations that the selectors want him just to focus on red ball cricket.

But on being asked about the exclusion of Pant from India’s squad, it was told that he has been sent to NCA for strength and conditioning training. The explosive wicketkeeper batsman hasn’t looked in a great touch this year.

He has scored runs in Test matches and has consistently proved himself to be India’s savior in red ball cricket. But when it comes to white ball cricket, his performance hasn’t been quite convincing.

In 2022, Pant scored 364 runs in 25 T20Is, averaging 21.41 at a strike-rate of 132.84. In 12 ODIs in which he featured this year, he made 336 runs, at a decent average of 37.33 and strike-rate of 96.55. But in Tests, Pant has been phenomenal, making 680 runs in 12 innings at an average of 61.81 and strike-rate of 90.90.

Speaking about this former Indian cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, said that Pant needs to wait for his chance in white ball cricket. He said that he needs to focus on red ball cricket as of now.

Talking about Pant on star sports the legendary opener said that “That’s why he’s not part of both squads. His white-ball numbers are not that great as compared to his Test numbers.”

“That’s why people like Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, who’ve kept wickets in the ODIs, are now ahead of Rishabh Pant. Look at Ishan Kishan, when he got that opportunity, he scored a double hundred in ODIs, so how can you ignore someone like him?”

“Probably, Rishabh will have to wait for his opportunity if he gets that chance in white-ball cricket. At the moment, he should focus on red-ball cricket. We know he’s got the talent, but he has got enough opportunities in white-ball cricket, where he was asked to open the batting or be in the middle-order.”

He further added that “The management has tried every possible way for him to succeed or given him the platform to be so in white-ball cricket, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.”