The debate around Rishabh Pant’s place in India’s T20I setup has intensified after former England captain Michael Vaughan shared his candid assessment. Vaughan believes that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper faces an uphill battle to reclaim his spot in the national side, especially with India boasting multiple in-form wicketkeeping options.

Michael Vaughan highlights fierce competition in India’s T20 setup

Vaughan pointed out that India’s current T20I squad is stacked with quality wicketkeeper-batters, making it increasingly difficult for Pant to walk back into the playing XI without delivering exceptional performances. Players like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan , and Jitesh Sharma have all made strong cases with their consistent displays and aggressive batting styles.

According to Vaughan, this depth creates a highly competitive environment where only standout performers can secure a place. He emphasized that Pant can no longer rely solely on his reputation and past performances to regain his position.

“If he’s going to open, he can be a bit braver. He can be a bit more of a dasher. India have got a galaxy of wicketkeepers with Samson, Kishan, and Jitesh Sharma. So it’s not going to be easy for him to get back in the Indian T20I side. The biggest stage is now for him to have a humdinger of an IPL,” said Vaughan on Cricbuzz.

Rishabh Pant’s disappointing start in IPL 2026

Pant’s IPL 2026 campaign began on a shaky note when he promoted himself to open the batting for LSG against Delhi Capitals. The move raised eyebrows, but the outcome did little to silence critics.

The left-hander struggled to find fluency during his short stay at the crease, managing just seven runs off nine deliveries before being run out at the non-striker’s end. His tentative approach stood in contrast to the fearless strokeplay that once defined his T20 batting.
For a player looking to re-establish himself in the shortest format, such performances only add to the pressure.

Also WATCH: LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka involves in animated discussion with Rishabh Pant after loss against DC in IPL 2026

Vaughan on how Pant can get back in the national side

Vaughan stressed that if Pant intends to open the batting, he must embrace a more aggressive mindset. He believes the wicketkeeper-batter’s natural game is built around instinctive strokeplay and bold shot-making — qualities that need to be on full display, especially in the IPL.

He suggested that Pant should take inspiration from players who play with freedom and intent, rather than overthinking his role. According to Vaughan, the best version of Pant is one who plays without fear, taking the attack to the opposition from the outset. The former England skipper also hinted that adapting to a conservative approach could dilute Pant’s effectiveness, particularly in a format that rewards high-impact performances.

“If I was him, I would be watching Suryavanshi. Because when Rishabh plays, he reminds me of a free-spirited character that tries to whack the ball out of the ground. And that’s how he should play,” added Vaughan.

Also WATCH: Prince Yadav engages in a heated exchange with Tristan Stubbs during LSG vs DC game at IPL 2026

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said several neighbouring countries have sought India’s assistance for petroleum supplies amid rising regional pressures as the Middle East conflict continues. “On Bangladesh, we continue to supply energy requirements to them since 2007… We have also recently supplied 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka, based on their request. We have ongoing engagement with Nepal and Bhutan, which continues,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “The government of the Maldives has also reached out to us for the supply of petroleum products, both on a short-term and long-term basis. These requests are being examined, keeping in mind our own availability and needs,” he added.Jaiswal also offered assurances on safety of Indians in the region. “”Around 10 million Indians live in the GCC countries. All of them are safe, and we remain in constant communication with them. It is unfortunate that, so far, eight Indians have been killed in this conflict, and one is still missing,” he said.“Here at the Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with our Ministry of Shipping and all our Indian embassies in the region, we are dedicated to safeguarding the security and interests of our citizens. We are closely monitoring all developments and activities related to the Gulf region, this ongoing conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz,” he further said.Additionally, addressing evacuation efforts, Jaiswal said, “Several of our Indian nationals—204, to be precise—have been able to leave Iran for Azerbaijan through the land border, and from there, they will be coming back home. Several of them have already returned, while others will do so over the next few days. We are thankful to the government of Azerbaijan for its support in facilitating the exit of Indian nationals from Iran.”

Quick catch-up for today:

Here are our top five stories of the evening:

AAP removes Raghav Chadha as party’s deputy leader in Rajya Sabha

The Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday removed Raghav Chadha as its party’s deputy leader in the Upper House, Rajya Sabha. The party has also requested that he no longer be included in the speaking time allotted to AAP, and has proposed Ashok Mittal for the position instead.Read full story

‘In safe hands’: Iran reassures ‘Indian friends’ on passage through Strait of Hormuz

Iran has reassured India over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, saying its “Indian friends” need not be concerned despite ongoing tensions in the region. In a post on X, the Iranian embassy in India said, “Our Indian friends are in safe hands, no worries,” and added that “only Iran and Oman will decide the future of the Strait of Hormuz.”Read full story

India’s defence exports hits all-time high mark at Rs 38.424 cr

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India’s defence exports reached a record Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025–26, marking a sharp 62.66% increase compared to the previous fiscal. The exports rose by Rs 14,802 crore from Rs 23,622 crore in 2024–25, highlighting significant growth in the country’s defence manufacturing and export sector.Read full story

SC raps Mamatal govt over gherao of judicial officers engaged in SIR

The SC on Thursday expressed serious concern over the Malda hostage incident, issuing show-cause notices to West Bengal’s chief secretary and DGP. The incident occurred when protesters, upset over voter list removals, surrounded judicial officers for several hours. The court described the episode as a “deplorable” and “calculated” attempt to disrupt the electoral process and called for deployment of central forces to ensure the safety of officers.Read full story

‘Could involve hundreds or thousands of troops’: Inside Donald Trump’s high-risk plan to seize Iran’s uranium stockpile

The US military has reportedly drafted an extraordinary wartime contingency plan at the behest of President Donald Trump, proposing a high-risk operation to seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The plan would involve securing nearly 1,000 pounds of radioactive material from inside Iran. Unlike a conventional strike, it would require a large-scale, ground-intensive mission deep within hostile territory, making it one of the most ambitious military proposals in modern history.Read full story

NEW DELHI: The internal rift between Raghav Chadha and the AAP high command came into the open after the party on Thursday replaced him with Ashok Mittal as its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.In a letter to the Rajya Sabha secretariat, AAP requested that Chadha not be allotted speaking time from the party’s quota in the Upper House.What led to the decision?According to reports, Chadha was reportedly sidelined for alleged indiscipline and for not strictly adhering to the party line.Interestingly, Chadha made no statements following the recent discharge of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the liquor excise policy-linked money laundering case. He was also absent from the party office when Kejriwal later arrived to address a press conference.During Kejriwal’s arrest in connection with the liquor policy case ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chadha refrained from making any remarks, claiming he was recovering from eye surgery in the UK.Last week, when speculations arose that Chadha might switch to the BJP ahead of the Punjab elections, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, however, played down the possibility. “If you are within a party, within a family, then internal issues are resolved through discussion. If it reaches that point, we will deal with it,” he said.The new deputy leader of AAP in the Rajya Sabha, Ashok Mittal, described Chadha’s removal as a normal party process, saying there were no specific reasons behind it.Addressing a press conference, Mittal, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, said he had no knowledge about rumours that Chadha might join the BJP. He added that Chadha would still be given time to speak in the Rajya Sabha:“Everyone gets time to speak in our party; it is a democratic process. Raghav Chadha will also be given time to speak in the Rajya Sabha in the future.”Mittal asserted that AAP is a democratic party and gives responsibilities to its leaders. He said the party would decide on Chadha’s role in the upcoming Punjab assembly elections.Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party president Virendra Sachdeva said that the replacement of MP Raghav Chadha as deputy leader in Rajya Sabha reflects Arvind Kejriwal’s anarchy.Sachdeva said that Chadha has not only been replaced as the deputy leader of the Upper House but the AAP has even urged the Raya Sabha Secretariat not to allow him time to speak in the House.It is clear that Chadha is paying a price for having distanced himself from the anarchic and corrupt leadership of AAP Convenor Kejriwal, the Delhi BJP President added. He said that first it was AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal and now her party member and MP Raghav Chadha who are, apparently, facing ill-treatment by “weak” Kejriwal, who has no guts to face political opposition whether from within the party or rival parties.Raghav Chadha, a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab, has been associated with AAP since its inception. He began his career working with Arvind Kejriwal on the Delhi Lokpal Bill in 2012 and quickly rose within the party, becoming a national spokesperson and later its youngest treasurer after AAP’s 2015 Delhi Assembly poll win.He contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from South Delhi but lost to Ramesh Bidhuri before winning the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections from Rajendra Nagar. Chadha later served as vice-chairman of the Delhi Jal Board. In 2022, at 33, he became the youngest Rajya Sabha MP and played a key role in AAP’s parliamentary and organisational affairs alongside leaders like Manish Sisodia and Bhagwant Mann.In 2023, AAP designated him as its leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Sanjay Singh. Chadha has frequently raised key public issues in the House.

USA GM Hikaru Nakamura blasts FIDE

NEW DELHI: World No. 2 American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has hit out at FIDE, the world chess governing body, over what he sees as excessive anti-cheating measures at the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. Opening his fourth Candidates with a loss to fellow American Fabiano Caruana, Nakamura took to his YouTube channel with Norwegian GM Jon Ludvig Hammer and Luxembourg’s WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni to vent his frustration.“My general view about the whole topic of delay, cheating over-the-board, and all this stuff is that I frankly think it’s nonsense,” Nakamura said. “Considering the amount of machines they have to scan the players in the room, it’s all complete nonsense. I really do.”