Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]: Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the debate surrounding India’s wicketkeeping choice for the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, stating that KL Rahul’s “fantastic” ODI statistics likely played a key role in head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for him over Rishabh Pant.
India’s decision to continue with Rahul behind the stumps during their 3-0 home series victory against England had already hinted at the management’s approach. Speculation arose that Pant might be given a chance in the final ODI before the tournament, but Rahul retained his spot.
The choice to keep Pant on the bench for the Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh sparked mixed reactions from fans. However, Rahul justified his selection with an unbeaten 41 off 47 balls, helping India cruise to a six-wicket win.
Ganguly: Rahul’s ODI Record Speaks for Itself
Addressing the selection call, Ganguly highlighted Rahul’s consistency in the format as the likely reason for Gambhir’s decision.
“India is such a strong batting side. Rishabh Pant is very good, and KL Rahul is very good. KL Rahul’s numbers in One Day Internationals are fantastic. So, I think that is why Gautam Gambhir has gone with KL Rahul. There is very little to choose from because both are exceptional,” Ganguly said at an event in Kolkata.
KL Rahul vs. Rishabh Pant – ODI Stats
- KL Rahul: 81 matches, 2,944 runs, average 48.26, strike rate 87.74, 7 centuries, 18 fifties.
- Rishabh Pant: 31 matches, 871 runs, average 33.50, strike rate 106.2, 1 century, 5 fifties.
Additionally, Rahul’s stellar record against arch-rivals Pakistan gives him an edge. In just three ODIs against Pakistan, he has 187 runs at an incredible average of 187.00, striking at 87.79.
Virat Kohli’s Form: A Concern or Temporary Setback?
Beyond the wicketkeeping debate, India is also closely watching Virat Kohli’s form. The star batter looked scratchy in the tournament opener against Bangladesh, managing just a single boundary before falling to leg-spinner Rishad Hossain.
However, Ganguly expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability to bounce back.
“Given Virat Kohli’s quality and the number of runs he has scored for India, I am sure he will be able to sort his problem out,” he stated.
Kohli’s record against Pakistan speaks for itself—678 runs in 16 ODIs at an average of 52.15, including three centuries and two fifties.
India vs Pakistan: Ganguly’s Prediction
Looking ahead to the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash on Sunday, Ganguly firmly backed India as the favorites.
“India is a very powerful white-ball team. In recent records, India has dominated Pakistan for a long period. I think since 2000, this is 2025, and as far as I can remember, India must have lost only once against Pakistan in a World tournament. So, for me, India is the favourite in this tournament. It won’t be easy for Pakistan,” Ganguly asserted.
Dubai Conditions: Low Scoring Matches Expected
Ganguly also noted that the pitches in Dubai might not produce high-scoring games, especially as the tournament progresses.
“Looking at the wicket, it is not easy to bat in Dubai. Bowlers will have a say as the tournament goes on. The spinners will have a lot of say. Batting won’t be easy because the wicket has been used quite a lot in ILT20. I don’t think we will see 300-run games in Dubai, but beating India will be very tough,” he added.
India’s Next Challenge: Pakistan on Sunday
With Rahul expected to keep his place and Kohli aiming to regain form, India will enter Sunday’s high-stakes match against defending champions Pakistan with momentum on their side.
India Squad for Champions Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohd. Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Pakistan Squad for Champions Trophy:
Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi.