Why Rishabh Pant Didn’t Play the 1st ODI vs ENG and Will He Feature in the 2nd ODI?
India who started their year 2025 with a dominant T20I series win against England, started their ODI series with a win as well. Apart from the win, fans have been asking this question in particular, Why Rishabh Pant Didn’t Play the 1st ODI vs ENG and Will He Feature in the 2nd ODI?
Why Rishabh Pant wasn’t playing the 1st ODI?
The main point why Rishabh Pant was not included in India’s playing XI for the 1st ODI against England in Nagpur was due to the ongoing competition for the wicket-keeper spot, especially with KL Rahul performing well in the squad.
While Pant’s left-handed performances add balance to the team, some experts argue Rahul’s consistent performances, including his crucial role in the 2023 ODI World Cup, make him a deserving choice. Aakash Chopra, a former cricketer turned pundit, highlighted Rahul’s contributions and questioned the decision behind dropping him in the ODI format, as he hasn’t made any mistakes. Chopra also mentioned that Pant’s ODI career is still a “work in progress,” which further supported Rahul’s selection over Pant.
Kl Rahul or Rishabh Pant, who is the right choice?
Team India’s former batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes KL Rahul should continue as the first-choice wicketkeeper over Rishabh Pant for the upcoming ODI matches against England. Rahul’s consistency as both a batsman and wicketkeeper, especially during the 2023 World Cup, cements him as a valuable asset to the team.
While Pant is an exciting talent, Bangar feels that Rahul’s performance in the middle of the innings and behind the stumps gives him the edge. He also dismissed the possibility of Pant and Rahul playing together, citing Ravindra Jadeja’s left-handed role that could add instability to the squad. Thus, Pant faces a challenge breaking into the playing XI with the current team dynamics.
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