Can India solve the KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant puzzle ahead of ICC Champions Trophy?

It's been quite a long time since India played its last ODI series. From the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup till now, the Men in Blue have played just one 50-over format series, during the Sri Lanka Tour back in August 2024. Now, with the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to start in February 2025, the three matches against England are all that India has to fall back into the 50-over rhythm. The Sri Lanka series was the sole instance of India playing the white-ball format under their new head coach, Gautam Gambhir. The three-match series, which India lost against the Lankans, saw the return of Rishabh Pant to the combination after his year-long hiatus from the game due to injuries. Meanwhile, KL Rahul found a stable spot in the team as the designated wicketkeeper. Now, with both wicketkeeping options fit and ready to perform, the management faces a puzzling task to decide between Pant and Rahul for the India vs England series and, eventually, the ICC Champions Trophy.

Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul: India has a task cut out for them ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy

In the period when Rishabh Pant battled against injuries incurred from the unfortunate car accident, KL Rahul marked the wicketkeeping spot in the Indian team as his own. Unlike his rocky standing in other formats, the Karnataka player boasts impressive numbers in ODIs as a middle-order batter for the team. In his ODI career, which started with a century against Zimbabwe in 2016, Rahul has played 45 innings batting in the 4th, 5th, and 6th positions. In these 45 innings, the batter has scored 1859 runs at an enviable average of 56.33. Moreover, Rahul has 4 centuries to his name while batting in the middle order in ODIs.

With these stats in mind, there are multiple aspects working against Rahul's selection in the Indian team for the India vs England series and, consequently, the ICC Champions Trophy. Firstly, KL Rahul's faltering ability to accelerate the innings during crucial moments is a concern. The instance that irked most was during the World Cup final against Australia. Moreover, considering the current setup, India's batting lineup is laden with right-handers. From openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill to the prospects down the order like Hardik Pandya, India shows no variety. Additionally, the picks in between, like Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, also bat right-handed, curbing India's chances to counter the opponent with a right-left combination.

This creates an opportunity for Rishabh Pant to enter the combination. Since his return to international cricket, Pant has played only one ODI, the last India vs Sri Lanka fixture. However, his overall credentials paint a picture of a fiery pick settled in the Indian middle order. Unlike Rahul's anchoring style of play, Pant provides raw hitting and a batting approach that stuns the opponent. Moreover, the left-handed batter outplays Rahul in a way that could favor him if India opts for the right-left combination, a strategy that Gautam Gambhir values in his plans.

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, meanwhile, favors KL Rahul in the debate over who should play between the two wicketkeepers in the ICC Champions Trophy. The three-match India vs England ODI series will provide a clearer picture of India's intended Playing XI for the ICC Champions Trophy. Thus, whoever between Rahul and Pant plays against the English is likely to extend their stay in India's team for the Champions Trophy. Chopra thinks that while Rishabh Pant has an edge, KL Rahul has done nothing wrong to lose his place in the Indian team.

“There are two schools of thought. One is that you have all right-handers, Shubman Gill is there with Rohit Sharma, then Virat Kohli, Rahul, and Hardik Pandya. So, don’t you want a left-hander there? People who come with that thinking are saying Rishabh Pant should be played,” Chopra said.

“What goes in KL Rahul’s favour is: what wrong has he done? Just because his name is Rahul, will you keep drumming him? Will you keep getting him to do all the jobs, whether it’s keeping, going up or down the order, and serving the drinks? No, that’s not going to happen,” he added. “I am going with KL Rahul. I am going with continuity. Why would you drop someone who hasn’t done anything wrong just because someone else does well? Rishabh Pant’s ODI record is a work in progress. So, Rahul should be the frontrunner,” Chopra concluded.