Rishabh Pant and captaincy might sound like an unusual pairing in red-ball cricket. But his leadership journey is far from new.
With Shubman Gill likely sidelined due to a neck injury , Pant might lead India in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati.
Rishabh Pant’s captaincy in red-ball cricket Criterion Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Stats Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
MatchesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table WinsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table LossesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table DrawsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Table - Rishabh Pant's captaincy record in first-class)
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant’s captaincy story began long before he became a regular in India’s Test side. During the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season, he captained Delhi in first-class cricket when Ishant Sharma was unavailable.
Under his leadership, Delhi reached the final, winning two matches, drawing two, and losing only in the summit clash.
While his personal batting figures during that period remained modest, his fearless decision-making and the ability to back young players stood out.
Criterion Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Stats Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
MatchesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table WinsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table LossesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No resultSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Table - Rishabh Pant's captaincy record in T20Is)
In international white-ball cricket, Rishabh Pant has also worn the captain’s armband. He has led India in five T20Is, stepping in as a stand-in captain when senior players were unavailable.
His T20I captaincy has been marked by bold field placements and an attacking mindset, even though India did not always get the desired results.
Rishabh Pant is the mainstay as IPL captain Criterion Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Stats Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
MatchesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 57Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table WinsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 30Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table LossesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 27Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Win percentageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 52.63Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Table - Rishabh Pant's captaincy record in IPL)
His biggest leadership role has arguably come in the Indian Premier League (IPL). As captain of the Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant took on the responsibility at a very young age.
Over multiple seasons, he guided a transitioning side through playoff qualification and tough phases of squad rebuild.
In IPL 2025, he joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). But the team had an underwhelming season, finishing seventh on the points table with six wins and eight losses.
What’s in store for the Guwahati Test? That being said, what makes Rishabh Pant a strong captaincy option now is not just experience, but personality. He brings energy, clarity, and a modern thinking approach, blending instinct with data.
If Shubman Gill is sidelined, Pant will not only have to lead the side but also take up extra responsibility as a batter. And naturally, all this experience as a captain will come in handy.
![Rishabh Pant's captaincy record [Source: @Rishabh_Pant_FC/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763643240236_Rishabh_Pant_IND_SA.jpg?type=hq)
Rishabh Pant's captaincy record [Source: @Rishabh_Pant_FC/X.com]
