India has a batting lineup in white-ball cricket to die for. However, it also means that a deserving player might not make it in the 11 since only 11 players can take the field at a time. So is the case with the keeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, who last played an ODI in August 2024.
KL Rahul has been picked for the ODI series against England and then the Champions Trophy as first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, despite not being a specialist ‘keeper. In the case of Pant, it may occasionally appear unfair considering the palette of talent he possesses, but legendary captain Sourav Ganguly believes the main reason for India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir’s backing of Rahul are the ‘fantastic numbers that he has put in the ODIs’.
In 31 ODIs, Pant has made 871 runs averaging 33.50, with a century and five half-centuries to his name. He has a total of 28 dismissals in the course of those ODIs-27 catches and one stumping. On the other hand, since debuting for India three years ago, Rahul has made 2,944 runs in 81 ODIs with an impressive average of 48.26, with seven centuries, 18 half-centuries, and as a wicketkeeper has taken 65 dismissals.
“They’re two extremely talented individuals, and it is very hard to choose between them. But Rahul really has fantastic numbers in ODIs. So, I do think that’s why Gautam Gambhir is backing Rahul,” quoted former India skipper Sourav Ganguly.
“The differences between both these players are very little. They both are exceptional,” Ganguly added.
According to Ganguly, India has lots of batting, and though they might have had a little wobble while chasing 229 against Bangladesh in the opening game of the Champions Trophy, there were sufficient quality batters to see to the business.
“India appears to be filled with five Shubman Gills: one, two, three, four and five who can all churn out centuries and win matches. Just imagine the depth of batting when Axar Patel bats at number five for India. Yesterday, India was in trouble but then came KL Rahul; there was also Ravindra Jadeja and also Hardik Pandya, you name it—batting after batting,” Ganguly concluded.
He credits the ‘system’ for the immense bench strength that is helping India achieve glory.
“India runs a whole talent depot thanks to the systems developed and their structures of the game,” said he.
