India head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that KL Rahul will be the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper over Rishabh Pant for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to begin on February 19. With India finalizing its squad and preparations, Rahul has been backed to don the gloves in the marquee tournament.
Both KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were part of India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, but their roles differed significantly. While Pant took on wicketkeeping duties during the five-match Test series, Rahul played as a specialist batter, adjusting to the team’s requirements. However, after India failed to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team management reassessed its plans.
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During the recently concluded three-match ODI series against England, Rahul was chosen as the wicketkeeper, while Pant remained on the bench. Speculation before the third ODI suggested that Pant might return to the playing XI, but the team management stuck with Rahul. The decision paid off as Rahul delivered a solid performance with the bat, scoring a quickfire 40 off 29 balls, including three fours and a six, helping India seal a 3-0 series win with a 142-run victory in the final match.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Gambhir reaffirmed Rahul’s position as India’s number-one wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy, citing his consistent performances.
“See, ultimately, it’s very difficult to talk about individuals, but all I can say is that if he’s part of the squad, if the time comes, he might get an opportunity. But at the moment, obviously, KL (Rahul) is the number-one wicketkeeper, and he’s delivered for us,” Gambhir stated.
While Rahul has been given the first-choice wicketkeeping role, Gambhir also emphasized that Pant should remain prepared for opportunities as the tournament progresses.
“See, when you’ve got two wicketkeepers in the squad, you can’t play both the wicketkeepers with the kind of quality we’ve got. Hopefully, whenever he gets that opportunity, he should be ready for it. That’s all I can say. At the moment, yes, KL is the one who’s going to start,” he added.
With the Champions Trophy returning after more than seven years, India will be looking to fine-tune their squad before their first match against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai. Following a dominant 3-0 ODI series win over England, the team will be high on confidence as they aim for their third Champions Trophy title.
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