Team India captain Rohit Sharma has hinted that KL Rahul is likely to continue as the wicketkeeper-batter ahead of Rishabh Pant in the ODI series against England. Praising Rahul, he stated that the batter has done exactly what the team has asked of him, but added that it’s a ‘good headache’ to have someone like Pant in the mix as well.
In Pant’s unavailability due to his car accident, Rahul played as India’s keeper-batter in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He had an impressive campaign, scoring 452 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 90.76.
There has been some chatter over who should be India’s keeper-batter in the one-day series against England. Speaking on the eve of the opening match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Indian captain Rohit shared his thoughts on the debate. While he did not give a direct answer, he provided enough hints to draw a conclusion that Rahul will be preferred over Pant.
The three-match one-day series against England at home will be the Men in Blue’s first ODI assignment since their 2-0 loss in Sri Lanka in August last year.
Rahul has featured in 77 ODI matches so far. In 72 innings, he has scored 2,851 runs at an impressive average of 49.15 and a strike rate of 87.56, with the aid of seven hundreds and 18 half-centuries. His best of 112 came against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui in February 2020.
Pant has been part of 31 one-dayers so far. In 27 innings, he has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21, with one hundred and five half-centuries. His best of 125* came against England in Manchester in July 2022.
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