- Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant may be relieved from Team India before the Champions Trophy 2025. In this event, not Sanju Samson but this wicketkeeper, who is considered very close to Gautam Gambhir, may be given the responsibility.
Rishabh Pant: The Champions Trophy 2025 will start in Pakistan on February 19. For the first time since 1996, the Pakistan Cricket Board is hosting an ICC event. However, India will play all its matches outside Pakistan in Dubai. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to announce Team India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 by this evening.
All countries must send the names of the 15-member players to the ICC by January 12, after which the names of the 15 players of Team India can be revealed today itself. But before that, there are reports that Pant (Rishabh Pant) had been dropped from the Champions Trophy, while this beloved player of Gautam Gambhir could be given the responsibility of wicketkeeping in the tournament.
Rishabh Pant may be discharged
Team India’s wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant may be dropped from the Champions Trophy. Pant’s performance in one-day matches has not been anything special, after which head coach Gautam Gambhir may show Pant the way out of the 15-member list of players. Pant, who has played 31 ODIs for India, has scored 871 runs at an average of just 33.50. Whereas in 67 matches played in List A, he has scored 1789 runs at an average of 31.94.
Pant may be capable of scoring runs at a fast pace. But he has failed many times in handling the innings in difficult situations. Pant played his last ODI for India against Sri Lanka in 2024. In this only match, he returned to the pavilion after scoring 6 runs off 9 balls.
Gambhir has faith in this player
The strongest contender in the race for the wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy is KL Rahul. This player played the role of wicketkeeper-batsman in the ODI World Cup 2023 and impressed everyone in both departments. Gautam Gambhir can once again give KL Rahul a chance in the playing XI as a wicketkeeper instead of Rishabh Pant for this mega event.
32-year-old KL Rahul’s ODI statistics are quite amazing. In the ODI format, KL scores run with a tremendous average of 49.15. While he can bat patiently in the middle order, he can also play the role of a big hitter in the last overs. His inclusion in the playing eleven from the opening matches is almost certain.
Sanju may get a chance
Sanju Samson can take advantage of Rishabh Pant’s poor form in ODIs. Apart from KL Rahul, Sanju can be included in the 15-member squad as a backup wicketkeeper. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has played 16 ODIs for India, in which he has scored 510 runs with a tremendous average of 56.66 and an aggressive strike rate of 99.60.
He has also played 1 century and 3 half-century innings in this format. Sanju is also performing brilliantly in T20I, so along with KL, Sanju can also be included in the squad for Champions Trophy 2025 as a wicketkeeper-batsman.