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Sanjay Bangar believes KL Rahul should be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper over Rishabh Pant for the ODI series against England due to his consistent performances and skills.
Rishabh Pant (L) and KL Rahul. (AFP/BCCI)
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar believes KL Rahul deserves to be retained as the first-choice wicketkeeper over ‘exciting talent’ Rishabh Pant for the upcoming three-ODI series against England. Bangar said Rahul hasn’t done much wrong as a batter or a wicketkeeper and can keep Pant at bay, for now.
The Rahul-Pant debate is a usual one for India. Rahul was the automatic first choice when Pant was injured for over a year in 2023 and made the number-five spot his own with his consistent performances, except for his bad day in the 2023 World Cup final. Pant didn’t have the same impact before his accident — 871 runs in 27 innings — but had flashes of brilliance like his only hundred, the 125* against South Africa.
“If you cast your mind back to the way KL Rahul has performed not only as a batsman but also as a wicketkeeper. Some of the catches and the way he kept in the (2023) World Cup was simply fabulous. Rishabh Pant, no doubt, is a very, very exciting talent. But currently, I believe that the team would start with KL in the lineup based on the performances that he’s given in the middle overs as well as his exploits as a wicketkeeper,” Bangar said on Star Sports.
These three ODIs against England will be India’s last preparation for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which will begin on February 19. So, the 11 that the team choose here would be likely retained at the ICC event.
Jadeja makes it difficult for Pant to break into the 11: Bangar
Bangar also rejected the idea of Pant and Rahul playing together in the team. He felt that Pant’s left-handedness can work in his favor but India won’t need it much till they have all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the 11.
“I don’t think both can play in the single line-up. Generally because of the makeup of the team is right-hand dominant, at least in the top six, and we’ve seen in the past how Jadeja has been used in the batting at four or five according to the needs and situation of the game.”
“So, they have that luxury of Jadeja at number seven who can obviously fit in and do the role of a left-hander through the middle overs if the situations arise wherein teams rely on left-arm spinners or leg-spinners. So, yes, there is an option in Jadeja and because of that I think Rishabh Pant may still find it difficult to straightaway break in the playing eleven,” he added.
