India, Dec. 29 -- Rishabh Pant's Vijay Hazare Trophy audition was always going to be graded on an unforgiving curve, and today's slip-up doesn't help.

Chasing a daunting 321 against Saurashtra in Bengaluru, the Delhi captain and wicketkeeper fell for 22 off 26 balls, leaving his side with a mountain still to climb, and more importantly, leaving Pant with another awkward data point in a selection season that already feels crowded.

Rishabh Pant's dismissal would always be headline material, especially in a tournament where an over can change the match. But the timing is cruel. There have been whispers around ODI selection, with reports during this VHT campaign already framing his outings through the lens of an ODI snub.

That context turn...