Another slightly off topic. We have already used 17 players in 3 tests. In previous years, we would only take 16 players on tour. In COVID days, we should let teams take 22 players or something like that. And, ideally, not play four test series abroad.
Coming back to the Pant debate, here are the numbers we were talking about. Monga says this (cite: CricInfo):
It is not that everyone is bad against spin. Pant is the worst among contemporary test keepers against spin.Since May 2018, he has a decent catching efficiency of 91.3% against pace and 86.4% against spin. As a perspective, Pant's catching efficiency off spin is 55%.
As I have always said, I would still pick him in the XI on balance and weigh Saha vs another batsman to decide whether to get Pant to keep or not and how much Ashwin, etc. will be bowling based on the pitch. But, just because I am pro playing Pant does not mean that I have to ignore his serious deficiency keeping against spin and flaws in keeping in general.
Wrt pace bowling, the difference perhaps does not matter as much.