KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in Champions Trophy 2025? Ajit Agarkar & Co. asks right-hander to play ODIs against England
KL Rahul has been India's no.1 wicket keeper-batter in the middle-order in ODIs.
KL Rahul is likely to be preferred over Rishabh Pant as the date for the India's squad announcement for the Champions Trophy 2025 draws near. Rumours flew that Rahul, who had a mixed outing in Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), will be given rest in the white-ball series against England ahead of the mega event, along with the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, etc.
The stylish right-hander even decided to opt out of the Karnataka squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy knockouts, which is already underway. However, in a U-turn, the BCCI has reportedly decided to make Rahul play the ODIs against England to get adequate match practice ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, which starts next month in Pakistan and Dubai.
Based on a TOI report, a source close to the developments said that BCCI has asked Rahul to be available for the three-match ODI series against England, which starts on February 6.
“The selectors initially decided to rest Rahul, who plays in the middle order and is a wicketkeeper in the ODIs, from the entire white-ball series against England at home. However, they had a rethink and the BCCI has now asked him to play in the ODI series so that he gains some match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy in February,” the source said.
In the absence of Pant, Rahul has been the no.1 wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs and has consistently scored runs in the middle order.
Why KL Rahul and not Rishabh Pant?
Ever since Pant was sidelined following his car accident on December 30, 2022, Rahul has been entrusted with the responsibility of donning the big gloves for India. While Pant was out of any cricketing action in 2023, Rahul scored 1,060 runs from 27 ODIs at a strike rate of 87.74 in the same year. This includes his seven fifties and two hundreds, one of which came in the World Cup itself.
In 2024, India did not play much ODIs, so as Rahul and Pant focussed more on T20Is and Test matches. Pant's shot selection in the recently-concluded BGT and his runs with the bat also have a role to play in Rahul being given more preference over the southpaw.
In fact, even if both Rahul and Pant get selected in India's Champions Trophy 2025 squad, the right-hander will be preferred as the no.1 choice in the playing XI.
Catch all theBusiness News, Sports News,Breaking NewsEvents andLatest News Updates on Live Mint. Download TheMint News App to get Daily Market Updates
Business NewsSportsCricket NewsKL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in Champions Trophy 2025? Ajit Agarkar & Co. asks right-hander to play ODIs against England
First Published:11 Jan 2025, 09:48 AM IST
- Top Gainers
- Top Losers
- 52 Week High