Dubai [UAE]: As India prepares for a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match against New Zealand on Sunday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate provided an update on captain Rohit Sharma’s injury status.
Speaking to reporters in Dubai, ten Doeschate assured that Rohit is managing his injury effectively. “He’s all right. As you can see, he’s batting, and he did a little bit of fielding earlier. It’s an injury he’s had before, so he knows how to manage it really well, and he’s on top of it,” he said.
Wicketkeeping Dilemma: KL Rahul vs Rishabh Pant
The discussion also turned to India’s wicketkeeping options, with KL Rahul currently preferred over Rishabh Pant. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the challenge of selection at the highest level.
“It’s been very hard on Rishabh not playing, but that’s the nature of sport at this level. KL’s been good. He didn’t get many chances, and when you’re batting at six or seven, it’s difficult to get proper opportunities,” he explained.
However, he highlighted Rahul’s crucial contributions, particularly in India’s recent matches. “Obviously, the third ODI in India, he did really well, and that knock against Bangladesh proved crucial in the end,” he added.
With two top-quality wicketkeepers in the squad, ten Doeschate stressed the importance of keeping Pant prepared. “We’ve got to keep Rishabh up and running. We never know when we’re going to need him, but certainly, having two wicketkeepers of that calibre is a nice thing to have,” he said.
KL Rahul Opens Up on Selection Pressure
India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul admitted feeling the pressure of having Rishabh Pant waiting for an opportunity. He acknowledged the “temptation” to include Pant in the XI due to his explosive style of play.
“There is – I won’t lie. I mean, he’s obviously a very, very talented player, and he’s shown all of us what he can do, how aggressive he is, and how quickly he can change the game. So yes, there’s always the temptation for the team as well, whether it’s the captain or the coach, to play either him or me,” Rahul said during a press conference on Friday.
The decision to stick with Rahul over Pant has divided opinions among fans and former cricketers. While some have backed Rahul’s consistency, others believe Pant’s impact in limited-overs cricket justifies his inclusion.
Rahul Embraces His Role in Champions Trophy
Despite the selection debate, Rahul has delivered strong performances as India’s wicketkeeper-batter in the ongoing Champions Trophy. In India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh, he played a composed knock of 41 off 47 balls*, anchoring the innings with a mix of patience and power, including two sixes and a four.
As India heads into a high-stakes clash against New Zealand, all eyes will be on how the team management balances experience and firepower in their playing XI.