'Why didn’t they play Pant at No. 4 versus South Africa?' - Ex-India opener questions selectors after BCCI announces squad for New Zealand ODIs

On Saturday, January 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad which will face New Zealand in an upcoming three-match ODI series. Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned some of the decisions made by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee.

Chopra feels that Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad being left out of the squad was a justified call, as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer returned to the line-up after being on the sidelines for a while due to injuries. While Gaikwad scored a fantastic century in the recent ODI series against South Africa while batting at No. 4, Chopra believes that the team management missed a trick by not playing Rishabh Pant in that position, because the latter has been retained in the squad versus New Zealand as the back-up keeper to KL Rahul.

“Ruturaj misses out because Iyer is back. So does Tilak because Gill is back. And that begs a question—why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself vs SA? Since you’re continuing with him as a back-up keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in Iyer’s absence," Chopra wrote on 'X'.

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“Also, if NKR is indispensable…why doesn’t he get a game? Even when India’s fielding 3 pacers?? Will he get a game now?? With four pacers? How can you get future-ready (read for Pandya’s absence) when he’s always warming the bench?”

Aakash Chopra@cricketaakash

Ruturaj misses out because Iyer is back. So does Tilak because Gill is back. And that begs a question—why didn’t they play Pant at 4 when the opportunity presented itself vs SA? Since you’re continuing with him as a back-up keeper, it would’ve made a lot more sense to play him in

06:17 PM · Jan 03, 2026

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The first ODI between India and New Zealand is scheduled to be held at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11.