Rishabh Pant Vice Captaincy Should He Play Freely in England Tests?
1. Introduction: A New Era for Indian Test Cricket
The upcoming five-match Test series between India and England, starting June 20, 2025, is not just another bilateral contest. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian cricket. With stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R. Ashwin stepping away from Test duties, India is entering a transitional phase under new skipper Shubman Gill. Among the players tasked with carrying the baton forward is Rishabh Pant, who has also been named the vice-captain for the first time in his career.
However, former India cricketer Hemang Badani has issued a timely reminder—not to burden Pant with leadership responsibilities but to allow him to express himself freely.
2. Badani’s Message: “Rishabh, Tu Apna Game Khel”
In a recent interview, Hemang Badani, now the head coach of Delhi Capitals, emphasized one crucial point: Pant should play his natural attacking game, not the overly cautious version that leadership might enforce. He urged India head coach Gautam Gambhir to have a candid conversation with Pant, advising him not to let the vice-captaincy influence his playing style.
“Forget that you are the vice captain of Team India. Just play your game,” is the advice Badani believes Gambhir should give Pant.
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3. Pant’s Explosive Legacy in Test Cricket
Pant’s Test career has been filled with fearless and game-changing performances. Despite missing the first half of 2024 due to injury, his red-ball record is already legendary. With 1681 runs in SENA countries at an average of 37.81 and hundreds in England, Australia, and South Africa, Pant has proven himself in the toughest conditions.
Who can forget his 146 off 111 balls in England the last time India toured? Or his debut six in Nottingham in 2018? These performances underline why he should continue being the maverick he is, rather than conforming to any leadership script.
4. Why Leadership Should Not Restrain Pant
There is often a concern that leadership roles bring with them a sense of responsibility that can alter a player’s natural instincts. Badani fears the same for Pant. The left-hander has been successful because of his ability to take the game head-on, often counter-attacking when the team is in trouble.
Being weighed down by vice-captaincy could hinder that aggressive mindset. Badani firmly believes the Indian team management must ensure Pant continues to be Pant—fearless, flamboyant, and free.
5. Gautam Gambhir’s Role as the Enabler
Gautam Gambhir, newly appointed as India’s head coach, has a major role to play here. Known for his straightforward approach and sharp cricketing brain, Gambhir must ensure Pant doesn’t feel overburdened. A simple message—“go and play your natural game”—can empower Pant to focus solely on his batting.
Badani stresses that this reassurance from the coach can help Pant retain the right balance between attacking stroke play and cautious defence, which has made him successful in red-ball cricket.
6. The Importance of Pant at No.5
With a revamped batting order, Pant is expected to bat at No.5 in this series. That position is crucial, especially in Tests in England where the second new ball often arrives just as the middle order walks in. Pant’s counter-attacking ability at that stage could break the momentum of England’s bowlers.
As Badani rightly points out, letting bowlers settle by leaving balls cautiously can give them the upper hand. Pant must continue to unsettle opposition attacks and seize control.
7. Balancing Risk and Reward: Pant Has the Formula
Contrary to the perception that Pant is reckless, he has actually shown tremendous maturity in his shot selection in recent years. The balance he maintains between aggression and responsibility is what makes him dangerous. Badani highlights that Pant already has the right formula, and the management must trust his instincts.
Trying to fix something that isn’t broken could be counterproductive. Pant didn’t earn the vice-captaincy by playing safe—he earned it by being bold and impactful.
8. The Broader Message: Let Natural Players Play Naturally
This scenario is also reflective of a larger cricketing lesson—players must not be shackled by roles or titles. Especially in Test cricket, where mental freedom often dictates performance, letting naturally aggressive players like Pant thrive in their own style is essential for team success.
Pant’s fearless game is his strength, and leadership should be about harnessing that—not modifying it.
9. Conclusion: Rishabh Pant is the X-Factor India Needs
As India embarks on this crucial five-match Test series against England, the focus must remain on allowing key players to play to their strengths. For Rishabh Pant, that means attacking with flair, unsettling the opposition, and turning matches on their head.
Gautam Gambhir and the team management must back Pant fully and not let the vice-captaincy dilute his natural instincts. India will need every bit of his explosiveness in the post-Rohit-Virat era. Because when Pant plays his natural game, he doesn’t just score runs—he shifts the balance of entire matches.
