Rishabh Pant, India’s beloved ‘Spidey’, steps into a leadership-heavy Test series with a fresh mantle. As Shubman Gill takes charge, India need Rishabh Pant to evolve from chaos creator to steady saviour in their post-Kohli, Rohit red-ball era.Being cheeky is something that comes naturally to Rishabh Pant.
Cheeky good, that is. Rishabh Pant is a constant stream of chatter from behind the stumps, and he will often make you laugh, but he is never malicious or offensive. But more than anywhere else, his cheekiness manifests itself in his batting. Sometime to irate ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid’ admonishments of the kind Sunil Gavaskar doled out in Melbourne last December, but also with spectacular outcomes.
“With great power comes great responsibility.” That line didn’t just shape Peter Parker into Spider-Man—it made him a hero. A team player. A leader. And as India get ready to begin a new era in Test cricket with the five-match series against England starting June 20 at Headingley, it’s time for India’s very own Spidey—Rishabh Pant—to take that lesson to heart.
Nicknamed Spidey by fans for his reflexes behind the stumps and his acrobatic strokeplay, Rishabh Pant is no longer just a crowd-puller or dressing-room hype man. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, and India entering a period of transition, the 27-year-old Rishabh Pant finds himself suddenly as one of the most experienced members of the squad—and more importantly, the vice-captain.
But this isn’t just a title. It’s a turning point in his career. Similarly, Rishabh Pant is now second-in-command to a new captain, Shubman Gill, who himself is taking on the burden of leadership for the first time in a full-fledged Test series. If Gill is India’s new Captain America in whites, then he’ll need his Spidey—not just to sling boundaries, but to steady the side.
Rishabh Pant’s stellar test career and his performance in England
Rishabh Pant has always been the wild card—scooping fast bowlers, reverse-sweeping off-spinners, chirping from behind the stumps and, more often than not, pulling India back from tricky situations with bat in hand. In England, his record is solid: 556 runs from nine Tests at an average of 32.70, including two centuries and two fifties.
Rishabh Pant is on his third full tour of England. It was here that, in August 2018, he made his Test debut midway through a five-match series. In only his third appearance, at The Oval, he provided glimpses of the immense potential nestling in his stocky frame, with a spectacular 114 in a sixth-wicket stand of 204 with KL Rahul. From 121 for five, chasing 464 for a consolation victory, India mounted a stunning rearguard action though eventually they fell well short, beaten by 118 runs to surrender the series 1-4.
In the next series – the fourth and the fifth Tests were split by a year – he unleashed 146 off a mere 111 deliveries with India in all sorts of trouble, 98 for five, on the first morning of the final Test, in Birmingham in July 2022. Once again, there was no joy for Rishabh Pant or India, who were hammered by seven wickets with England rallying to square the showdown 2-2.
Perhaps the most memorable of those came in Edgbaston in 2022, when Pant walked in with India teetering at 98 for 5. What followed was nothing short of superhero stuff—a counter-attacking 146 off 111 balls, full of daring stroke play and fearless intent. Alongside Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant rescued India and reminded fans of his game-breaking potential. That day,Rishabh Pant went from stuntman to saviour. But now, India need that more consistently.
Despite his obvious and sustained high-risk approach, he averages 42.11 from 43 Tests while striking at 73.62 runs per 100 balls faced. He also smashes almost one six an innings in Test cricket (73 in 75 knocks), which reiterates his image as a risk-non-averse batter without a negative bone in his body. This staggering stats overseas propelled former Indian batter Mohammed Kaif to have massive claim regarding Rishabh Pant’s role in the Indian team.
Mohammad Kaif’s take on Indian Test captaincy
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif made a stunning claim with regards to captaincy ahead of the five-match Test series between England and India. The first Test begins on Friday, June 20, at Headingley, Leeds.
Shubman Gill has been named the new Test captain ahead of the England series after the retirement of stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Talking on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif explained the reason behind Gill being picked as the next Test captain.
“Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had given a statement that hey talk a lot behind the scenes and take feedback. Gill captained in the IPL as well and Gujarat played very well in the league phase. His experience in captaincy has increased from there. Selectors have also shown faith. He has scored runs as well as captain in the IPL. They got feedback that he has the calmness. He does not succumb to pressure. He is a leader. He has the tactical sense as a captain,” Kaif explained
“They took this feedback from people in the dressing room and made him captain. His record as a batter in Tests is not great. He has to prove himself in Tests and the pressure will be there. But as there is no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli, Bumrah is injury prone and he may not play all Tests,” he added.
However, Mohammad Kaif believes that Rishabh Pant should have been made captain over Gill and was more worthy of the role. He pointed out that no batter in the current Indian squad has played more match-winning knocks in Tests than Pant. Mohammad Kaif also added that Gill has been made captain, keeping the future in mind.
“I believed that Rishabh Pant was more worthy compared to Shubman Gill. He should have been the captain. No one in the current squad has played as many match-winning knocks as Pant. He captains in the IPL as well. However, as Gill was doing well in the IPL, the feedback was to invest in him as captain. They have played a gamble on him that he can win us the series. It is an investment for the future, that is why Gill has been made captain,” he said.
Notably, Rishabh Pant is the vice-captain of the current Indian Test team that is set to play in England. While Rishabh Pant prepares to evolve, the spotlight is equally bright on Shubman Gill, India’s new captain. At 25, he’s stepping into the shoes of legends and steering a squad in transition. While Gill brings calm and class, his leadership journey is just beginning.
Gill would need Rishabh Pant in the trenches. As a bridge between the dressing room and the pitch. As a voice of experience in England. As the one who’s walked these paths and knows how to survive cloudy mornings and reverse swing. With Rishabh Pant slated to bat at No. 5, he’s not just a match-winner—he’s a match-shaper. His decisions, his partnerships, his shot selection will matter more than ever in the 2025–2027 World Test Championship cycle. A strong start at Headingley could define the arc of India’s red-ball future.
Rishabh Pant’s Spider-Man persona has always thrilled the fans. His banter, his boldness, his ability to shift gears in a flash—it’s all part of the spectacle. But India now need more than a multiverse maverick. They need a mature match-winner. One who knows when to swing, and when to hold back.
Rishabh Pant’s path now calls for responsibility. He’s not just the rookie with talent anymore. He’s vice-captain, a leader, and a symbol of India’s new era. Because while Shubman Gill may wear the captain’s shield ,India’s future fate may still hang by the web spun by Spidey Rishabh Pant.
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