Rishabh Pant must change his approach or face selection risk, says Amit Mishra

Former India spinner Amit Mishra has urged Rishabh Pant to modify his game or risk being dropped from the Test squad.

Pant, who made his international debut in 2017, has been a regular in India’s Test team while featuring only sporadically in ODIs and T20Is. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored eight Test centuries, the most by an Indian and joint third-highest overall.

Despite Pant’s impressive record in Tests, Mishra believes the 28-year-old must adapt his approach, as opposition teams are closely studying his game and strategizing against him.

“I have very high expectations from Rishabh Pant. Given the kind of player he is, he will also have to modify his game. Now, you can’t really call him a youngster anymore — he has been in the team since 2018. After a certain point, it becomes very important to change your game,” Mishra said on the Men XP podcast.

Mishra highlighted that opposing teams now know Pant’s strengths and weaknesses, and he must avoid repeating mistakes.

“The opposition is observing you — where you attack fast bowling, which balls you avoid. You need to be aware of that. You can’t keep saying, ‘I got out the same way again.’ That’s something you must avoid,” he added.

Mishra also advised Pant against sticking stubbornly to his preferred shots, especially on challenging tracks like those seen in South Africa:

“If a particular shot doesn’t work on a pitch, don’t play it. You can’t insist on saying, ‘This is my game.’ You may manage for a few matches, but eventually you risk being dropped. Wickets and conditions vary — some tracks offer bounce or turn, some swing. How you adapt is crucial.”

Pant struggled in his recent return, scoring only 49 runs across two Tests against South Africa. He also led the team in Shubman Gill’s absence, but India were whitewashed 0–2, marking their second home series defeat in as many years.

Following the loss, India sits sixth in the World Test Championship standings, with four wins from nine matches and a points percentage of 48.15. The team’s next challenge will be a Test series against Sri Lanka abroad in 2026.