Syed Kirmani believes Rishabh Pant must sharpen fitness, control attacking instincts and stabilise temperament to regain a permanent spot across formats
for India. The former India wicketkeeper says Pant's batting flair alone will not be enough when several capable wicketkeeper-batters are challenging for limited places in the national side.
According to Kirmani, Pant's current position is far from secure because other wicketkeepers have delivered reliable performances in Pant's absence. Kirmani says selection will depend on which player offers stronger consistency and better physical condition, and stresses that Pant needs to prove superiority over every rival option whenever opportunities arise.
Rishabh Pant competition for India wicketkeeper spots
Kirmani points to intense competition for wicketkeeper roles in the Indian team across Tests, ODIs and T20s. He notes that the selection committee must now assess several multifunctional players who can bat and keep wickets, which has created what Kirmani calls a serious challenge for selectors when they weigh up options for each format.
| Player | Primary role |
|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| KL Rahul | Batter who can keep wickets |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper-batter |
Highlighting this crowded field, Kirmani says selectors currently weigh up Rishabh Pant alongside KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson, especially in white-ball cricket. He describes this battle as "fierce competition among these five players, and warns that every contender must remain highly prepared because talent alone no longer guarantees automatic selection.
Rishabh Pant fitness, temperament and all-format ambitions
While acknowledging Pant's natural stroke-play, Kirmani underlines that unchecked aggression can hurt the team. "Rishabh has to work hard on his physical fitness, consistency and temperament. His temperament is very vulnerable, turbulent. No player can say 'I am a born hitter, I have to hit every ball'. " Kirmani feels this mindset undermines long-term success.
Kirmani explains that match conditions and team needs must guide Pant's shot selection. "You might have that particular day when you get rid of every ball you want to hit. But you have to look into the circumstances, what format you are playing, and what the team wants you to do," he told PTI, urging a more measured approach from Pant.
The former India wicketkeeper says that wherever Pant is picked, there will be scrutiny of every aspect of Pant's game. "Wherever Rishabh Pant is selected, he has to show his physical fitness, he has to show his performance. He has to show his consistency is better than the other wicketkeepers competing with him. That's it. " Kirmani sees no shortcuts.
Rishabh Pant accident, comeback and Indian team form
Kirmani also reflects on the severe car crash that halted Pant's rise in December 2022 and kept Pant out of cricket for 15 months. During that period, several Indian wicketkeepers played international cricket, which, according to Kirmani, allowed them to establish themselves as steady options in Tests and ODIs.
Describing that phase, Kirmani says, "It's the unfortunate accident which he went through. In that process, all other wicketkeepers in the making came up one after another. They showed consistency in Test matches and ODIs wherever they were selected. They showed their ability to perform when it is required. "
Kirmani adds that this long rehabilitation affected Pant's place in the pecking order. "So, in that process, Rishabh Pant lost his little ground there during the recuperation of his accident. Now, he faces tremendous competition," the 1983 World Cup winner said, noting how quickly others seized chances while Pant recovered.
Pant returned to competitive cricket in IPL 2024, about 15 months after the accident. Kirmani appreciates the scale of that recovery but feels Pant still has work to do. "After the near fatal accident.it was a huge comeback for him. And he's taking some time. He is not showing that kind of consistency he had shown earlier in all the three formats," he remarked.
Rishabh Pant talent, guidance and Indian wicketkeeper standards
Kirmani holds Pant in very high regard as a natural cricketer and links Pant with a new generation of gifted players. Kirmani described Pant as the "most gifted and talented" player to emerge in Indian cricket "after Sachin Tendulkar and before Vaibhav Sooryavanshi", placing Pant in a rare bracket of batting ability.
Recalling Pant's early impact, Kirmani says, "When Rishabh Pant broke into the Indian side, I thought he was the most talented or gifted after Sachin Tendulkar. And I considered him the most talented until this new boy (Vaibhav) Sooryavanshi emerged. But now when I see him playing only Tests, I am quite baffled," admitting surprise at Pant's current role.
Kirmani, who played 88 Tests and 49 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1986, believes modern wicketkeepers focus more on batting skills. "You've got to consider that particular player's consistency and physical fitness for selection. That's the way to select that player. The current breed of wicketkeepers and batters are concentrating more on their batting prowess because if they score and provide significant batting support, they advance. They are concentrating more on their batting ability," he concluded.
At the same time, Kirmani stresses that coaching staff can only prepare players up to a point and cannot be blamed for failures. "The coaches, the mentors who are around, their duty is to guide and show the player the right direction and approach. Before a match starts, they can only guide the players," said 76-year-old Kirmani, outlining limits of support staff influence.
For Kirmani, responsibility always returns to the individual. "You can't blame anybody else. It has to be the player all the way, whether he or she shows a good form or not. Nobody can take the blame except the player himself," he observed, implying that Rishabh Pant alone can decide whether fitness, temperament and consistency match the demands of an all-format Indian role.
