India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who was once an all-rounder for the national team, has now turned into a one-note player under Gautam Gambhir’s reign. Rishabh Pant is now struggling to retain his spot and the reason is not just form or competition.

Gautam Gambhir vs Rishabh Pant: Explosive rift behind Pant’s shocking ODI omission revealed

A huge internal rift between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and star wicketkeeper Reesha Pant has come to light, leading directly to the left-handed batsman being stripped of his place in the ODI squad. Pant has struggled to maintain his place in the team during Gambhir’s tenure.

Also read: Rishabh Pant dropped from Test squad for 2025

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Competition intensified as Ishan Kishan, Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson all struggled, but internal issues between Gambhir and Pant led to his ouster from the white-ball team. Once considered an automatic choice across formats, Pant has now become a single-format player.

What triggered the Gambhir-Pant Cold War?

🚨Sports Tak Reporters Vikrant Gupta and Nitin Shrivastava talk about Rishabh Pant in ODI cricket 🚨(Sports Tak).

– “There has been little progress between coach Gautam Gambhir and Rishabh Pant. There has been no communication between them since the Guwahati Test.
Because of this, Pan… pic.twitter.com/mnRpkZ873x

– Hands (@IMManu_18) December 30, 2025

According to a SportsTak reporter, the relationship between Gambhir and Pant has reached a breaking point. Gambhir had a clear preference for certain players at the expense of others.

Past baggage and unresolved issues are said to be influencing decisions and Pant has emerged as the name most personally affected by this. Currently, there is no progress between the coach and the goalkeeper.

The situation reportedly got worse after the Guwahati test, with India suffering a humiliating defeat.

Consequences of choice: Kishan and Jurel step in

This situation directly affects the selection of the team. Ishan Kishan’s return to the T20I squad is seen as a move to further exclude Pant from the white-ball plans. In ODIs, KL Rahul remains the first-choice wicketkeeper while Dhruv Jurel has emerged as the first-choice backup.

Also read: Amid sacking rumours, Yuvraj Singh expected to join Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff

Ishan Kishan also made a solid comeback with his stellar performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. As things stand, Pant will miss the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home, with Jurel and Kishan now being considered as the second options.

BCCI tightens control, Gautam Gambhir treads on thin ice

The pressure on Gautam Gambhir as India head coach is mounting rapidly and his future now depends entirely on results. The Cricket Book YouTube channel hinted that Gambhir was about to lose his job, but the BCCI gave him temporary relief.

However, the warning is clear and non-negotiable. If India fails to win the upcoming 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Gambhir will be shown the door. Behind the scenes, the BCCI has reportedly started putting pressure on including VVS Laxman in the Test setup.

The BCCI move was carefully planned to create headlines and remind Gambhir that his stance is constantly under scrutiny. Tensions also emerged over team decisions. The BCCI and selectors, especially RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha, stepped in and took control of key decisions, asking Gambhir to focus only on winning the game.