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Gautam Gambhir confirmed
India vs England The three-match ODI series has come to an end. India defeated England by 142 runs in the final ODI to clinch the series. The Indian team will now show its strength in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Who among Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul will take charge of wicketkeeping in the Champions Trophy? India head coach Gautam Gambhir has given a clear answer to this question. He confirmed that Rahul will be the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the tournament. Pant’s inclusion in the playing XI will not be considered immediately.
Rahul played the role of wicketkeeper in the England ODI series. At the same time, Pant was not included in the playing XI in any of the matches against England. Rahul was sent to bat at number six in the first two matches, in which he did not look comfortable. However, he came to bat at his preferred number five in the third match in Ahmedabad and played a useful innings of 40 runs in 29 balls. The Champions Trophy will begin on February 19 while India will begin their campaign on February 20.
“Rahul is our number one wicketkeeper right now and that’s all I can say right now,” the coach said after winning the third ODI on Wednesday. “Rishabh Pant will get a chance but Rahul is doing well right now and we cannot play with two wicketkeeper-batsmen.” Justifying his decision to field Axar Patel in place of Rahul, who was doing well at number five, in the first two matches, Gambhir said the team’s interest is more important than any individual. “We don’t look at averages and statistics,” he said. We will see which player can perform better.
India have included spinner Varun Chakravarthy in the Champions Trophy squad after dropping Yashasvi Jaiswal. The coach has called the decision the right one. “The only reason for this is that we wanted an option as a wicket-taking bowler and we all know that Varun Chakravarthy can be that option,” Gambhir said. Jaiswal still has a long future ahead of him and we can only choose 15 players.
Gill Bikram Singh