3 hours agoSports
28LENS
2 SourcesIndia
thebalanced.newsMohammad Kaif Defends Rishabh Pant After Removal as Test Vice-Captain
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif criticized the BCCI and selectors for removing Rishabh Pant as the Test team's vice-captain ahead of the Afghanistan series, arguing that Pant's IPL performance should not influence red-ball selections. Kaif highlighted Pant as a key Test match-winner and questioned the inconsistency in selection decisions, noting KL Rahul's appointment despite his age and Mohammed Shami's exclusion. Pant was replaced by Rahul and omitted from the white-ball squad, while selectors maintain Pant's Test place is secure.
Political Bias
0%100%0%
Sentiment
55%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 2 sources
● Left 0%● Center 100%● Right 0%
The articles primarily present the viewpoint of former cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who defends Rishabh Pant and critiques the selectors' decisions. The coverage reflects a perspective supportive of Pant and critical of the selection committee's rationale, particularly regarding the influence of IPL performance and age considerations. There is limited representation of the selectors' or BCCI's detailed reasoning beyond official statements, resulting in a focus on player and former player opinions.
Sentiment — Neutral (55/100)
The overall tone across the articles is critical of the selection decision to remove Pant as vice-captain, expressing disappointment and disagreement through Kaif's comments. While acknowledging Pant's recent IPL struggles, the sentiment favors Pant's abilities and contributions in Test cricket. The coverage is predominantly negative toward the selectors' approach but maintains a respectful and factual tone without sensationalism.
How 2 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| indiatoday | Rishabh Pant did nothing wrong: Kaif on wicketkeeper losing Test vice-captaincy | Center | Neutral |
| english | 'Hasn't Done Anything Wrong': Ex-India Star Defends Rishabh Pant Over Test Vice-Captaincy Removal | Center | Neutral |
Coverage timeline
english broke this story on 20 May, 11:31 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1english20 May, 11:31 am'Hasn't Done Anything Wrong': Ex-India Star Defends Rishabh Pant Over Test Vice-Captaincy Removal
- 2indiatoday20 May, 04:43 pmRishabh Pant did nothing wrong: Kaif on wicketkeeper losing Test vice-captaincy
Lens Score breakdown
28/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap100%
Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.
Story context
- Category
- Sports
- Location
- India
- Sources analysed
- 2
- Last analysed
- 20 May 2026
- Key entities
- Mohammad KaifRishabh PantCaptain (cricket)Limited overs cricketFirst-class cricketLucknow Super GiantsK. L. RahulTest cricketIndiaCricketBatting (cricket)Mohammed Shami
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