India has locked in their playing XI for the opening ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh, and once again, KL Rahul has been preferred over Rishabh Pant as the primary wicket-keeping option. This marks the fourth consecutive instance where the Karnataka batter has been chosen ahead of Pant, with KL getting preference in the recent three ODIs against England as well.
Why KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant?
Despite the left-right combination strategy that head coach Gautam Gambhir favors, Rahul’s stellar record in ODIs has made him indispensable. With an average of 56.27 at No. 4 and 5, coupled with his ability to stabilize the innings and accelerate when needed, he remains India’s most reliable option. Pant’s superior strike rate of 109.18 is impressive, but Rahul’s consistency and adaptability give him a massive advantage.
While Pant’s left-handedness could have worked in his favour, Rohit Sharma and Gambhir have placed their trust in Rahul’s experience. His match-winning performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup, including a crucial 97* against Australia, are an example of KL Rahul’s work under immense pressure. India did promote Axar Patel at number five due to Rahul being much more flexible than any other Indian middle-order batter.
KL Rahul & Rishabh Pant: ODI stats comparison at No. 4 & 5
| Player | Inn | Runs | Average | SR | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 44 | 1857 | 56.27 | 93.26 | 4 | 12 |
| Rishabh Pant | 24 | 808 | 35.13 | 109.18 | 1 | 5 |
Team India playing XI vs Bangladesh at Champions Trophy
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav
