Gautam Gambhir Warns Rishabh Pant to “Respect the Situation” After Vice-Captaincy Snub Ahead of Afghanistan Test

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has backed Rishabh Pant to continue playing his natural attacking game while stressing that the wicketkeeper-batter must better judge match situations in international cricket. Gambhir’s comments came ahead of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan, which begins on Saturday in New Chandigarh, and followed similar remarks from assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate a day earlier.

Pant was removed as India’s Test vice-captain when the BCCI announced the squad for the Afghanistan Test last month, with KL Rahul taking over the role. Despite the leadership change, Gambhir said the team still values Pant’s influence and does not want him to alter the style that has made him one of India’s most dynamic batters. The coach said the expectation is not for Pant to abandon his instinctive approach, but to balance it with the demands of the match situation.

Ten Doeschate had also defended Pant’s role in the team, saying the side does not want to take away the qualities that make him special, but would like him to adapt more often to the situation at hand. He added that Pant does not need an official title to be a leader in an elite dressing room, suggesting that his influence extends beyond the vice-captaincy.

The Afghanistan Test is an important occasion for Pant, who is set to play his 50th Test match. In 49 Tests so far, he has scored 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91 and a strike rate of 74.24, including eight centuries and 18 half-centuries. The milestone gives him another chance to add to a strong red-ball record and reaffirm his value in India’s Test setup.

Pant, 28, has been through a challenging phase in recent months. He endured a difficult IPL 2026 season as both batter and captain of Lucknow Super Giants, and his Test leadership responsibilities were also reduced with the vice-captaincy being handed to Rahul. His aggressive batting approach has drawn scrutiny at times, including during India’s Test series against South Africa and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where questions were raised about shot selection in pressure situations.

The Afghanistan match now offers Pant a fresh opportunity to focus on Test cricket and respond with a strong performance. For India, it marks the start of another red-ball assignment, while for Pant it is a milestone game that could help reset the narrative around his form, temperament, and role in the team. The broader message from the team management is clear: Pant remains central to India’s plans, but his greatest challenge is to combine his natural flair with greater awareness of when the situation calls for restraint.