Prior to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir endorsed wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, referring to him as the team’s primary keeper option. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are the two wicketkeepers that India has selected for the Champions Trophy. During India’s final assignment before the major event, a three-match ODI series against England, the team management demonstrated faith in KL Rahul.
Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant’s chances of making it into India’s playing 11 may have taken a massive blow with the Head Coach, Gautam Gambhir openly stating that KL Rahul would be his first-choice gloveman as they head into the Champions Trophy 2025.
A point to note is that among all the players that are in the squad, only Pant is the one that did not get a single game. KL Rahul struggled initially when he played at the number six position with Axar Patel being promoted higher up the order. But since playing at his designated number five position, he put in a solid effort scoring 40 off 29 balls in the first innings of the 3rd ODI against England in Ahmedabad.
KL Rahul’s and Rishabh Pant’s performance in recent times in ODIs.
Gautam Gambhir reveals why India played KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in England ODI series 2025
Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that KL Rahul will continue to keep wickets for the Men in Blue in Champions Trophy 2025. Terming Rahul as the team’s No. 1 wicketkeeper, he added that Rishabh Pant will get his chance.
With Pant unavailable for the 2023 ODI World Cup following his car accident, Rahul kept wickets for India in the ICC event. He did a decent job with the gloves and impressed with the bat as well. Even as Pant has made a comeback to international cricket, Rahul remains India’s first-choice keeper-batter in ODIs.
The Karnataka cricketer played all three matches in the recently concluded ODI series against England at home, which India won 3-0. At a post-match press conference, Gambhir said that Rahul will remain the first preference as keeper-batter in ODIs (as quoted by Times of India):
“KL is our No. 1 wicketkeeper, and this is what I can say at the moment. Rishabh Pant will get his chance, but, at the moment, it is KL who has done well, and we cannot play two wicketkeeper-batters.”
While KL Rahul failed to make an impact in the first two one-dayers against England, he chipped in with 40 off 29 in the final ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, smashing three fours and a six. The 32-year-old KL Rahul was also impressive behind the wickets, taking a catch and effecting a stumping.
The Indian management’s decision to promote all-rounder Axar Patel to No. 5 ahead of Rahul for the first two matches against England received mixed views. Many wondered why a specialist batter was coming in behind an all-rounder. Gambhir, though, backed the move:
“We don’t look at averages and stats. We look at who can deliver when.”
Axar scored 52 in the first one-dayer in Nagpur and contributed 41* in Cuttack. He was dismissed for 13 in Ahmedabad.
During the press conference, Gambhir also shared his views on the decision to omit young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from the Champions Trophy squad and include Varun Chakravarthy as an extra spinner.
“The only reason was we wanted a wicket-taking option and we know Varun Chakravarthy can be that option. Yashasvi Jaiswal has a long future ahead, and we can only play 15,” the head coach said.
Team India begin their campaign in Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh in Dubai on February 20. The series against England ended on a positive note with India whitewashing the visitors 3-0. Now they will have their sole focus on the Champions Trophy 2025 where Gambhir will be looking to make a massive statement.