After weeks of speculation, India has unveiled their squads for the upcoming ODI and Test series against Afghanistan.
There are plenty of fresh faces, but perhaps the most interesting development is KL Rahul’s promotion as vice-captain – replacing Rishabh Pant who has not only lost his vice-captaincy but has been dropped from the ODI squad.
Pant’s Omission: Explained
Perhaps Pant’s unfortunate omission shouldn’t be a surprise. Although India cricket has had a strong 2026 so far, with their standout moment being their victory at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the management has clearly doubled down on tactical discipline.
Pant’s game is high-risk, high-reward – brilliant when it comes off, but not always aligned with the kind of tempo control India often wants in 50-over cricket. This is easily discernible just by looking at the response of bookmakers.
Whenever Pant is on the field, odds seem to be more volatile – Pounds India might give odds that are shortened, while another similar sportsbook might price him significantly differently. This is mainly due to his aggressive batting style and the impact it has on scoring uncertainty.
In contrast, KL Rahul offers a far more structured approach at number 1 or 2, which makes him a logical choice for both balance and leadership stability.
Rahul’s Personal Test
That being said, Pant is a great player, and Rahul still has some proving points to earn.
With this in mind, the series against Afghanistan will be his own personal test – a challenge that will determine whether he sticks around in the vice-captain role, or is just a placeholder before Pant potentially forces his way back into the leadership conversation.
As for how he will fare in this test, the outlook is good. As mentioned before, Rahul brings a level of composure that India has leaned on repeatedly in pressure situations.
Across multiple formats, he’s shown the ability to adapt his game depending on roles, and his centuries in difficult overseas conditions – coupled with his performance in previous ICC tournaments – have reinforced his reputation as a player who can rise when expectations are high.
Perhaps what works most strongly in Rahul’s favour, however, is his tactical understanding of the game. In both Test and ODI cricket, you need to be able to read situations well and be comfortable batting deep into innings.
Pant sometimes struggles with that, with a tendency to hit the ball hard when what is really required is patience and discipline – indeed, Pant would likely feel very at home in England’s ‘bazball’ setup if it hadn’t collapsed in Australia, that is.
Rahul, on the other hand, is more prone to tempo control, particularly when conditions are slow and games are tight.
Afghanistan’s Challenge
This makes him a very interesting prospect against Afghanistan, who have seen a cricketing renaissance in recent years, and are notoriously capable of dragging games into attritional, low-scoring phases.
Yes, the team is still a mid-to-upper tier side in ODIs, and Test cricket is still their developing format, but Afghanistan are a clever squad that can manipulate situations.
All it takes is one quick spell of spin pressure to shake India, and they could find themselves creeping on top. Rahul will need to be wary of this if he wants to anchor India’s innings and see out these sorts of attacks.
Conclusion
We won’t know how he will fare until all the players are on the field, of course, but if we’re looking at his past form and track record in pressure situations, it’s safe to say he has a good chance of success.
He’s been picked for a reason, after all. Gautam Gambhir looks to him as a stabilizing player, and he’s been rewarded as such. Now it’s just up to him to lead from the front with the bat and make sure he’s at the top of his game.
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