Subhechcha Ganguly 
As India prepares to usher in a new era in Test cricket under the leadership of Shubman Gill, former India cricketer Hemang Badani has urged vice-captain Rishabh Pant to stay true to his attacking instincts during the upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting June 20.
Badani, who now serves as the head coach of IPL side Delhi Capitals, believes the Indian team management, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, must give Pant the freedom to express himself at the crease without being bogged down by the burden of leadership.
“Rishabh, tu apna game khel, forget that you are the vice-captain of Team India,” is the advice Badani believes Gambhir should offer Pant ahead of the high-stakes series.
Pant, officially part of the Test leadership group for the first time, is expected to play a crucial role in India’s transition phase following the retirement of stalwarts like R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli — a combined experience of nearly 300 Tests lost at once.
Despite a tough outing in Australia earlier this year and a disappointing IPL 2025 with Lucknow Super Giants — where he was the most expensive player in history — Pant remains one of India’s most dependable red-ball batters. With 1681 runs in SENA countries at an average of 37.81, including centuries in Australia, England, and South Africa, Pant’s overseas Test record speaks volumes.
“Pant didn’t become the vice-captain by playing safe. He earned that role because of his fearless and positive approach,” Badani told Hindustan Times in an exclusive interview. “He has struck the right balance between aggression and defence in red-ball cricket over the past few years. There’s no reason to change that now.”
Pant’s last Test in England was a reminder of what he’s capable of — a blistering 146 off 111 balls in Birmingham after India had slumped to 98 for 5. It was his second Test ton on English soil, following his unforgettable six to get off the mark in Nottingham on debut seven years ago.
As the Indian team turns a new chapter in Test cricket, the spotlight will firmly be on Pant — not just as a wicketkeeper and batter, but now also as a leader. And if Badani’s words are anything to go by, the key to India’s success might just lie in letting Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant.
