Rishabh Pant, the stunning star keeper-batsman of Indian team, who was included in the 15-man squad for ICC Champion Trophy 2025, got a little hit in the knee during his first practice sessions at Dubai in consideration with the blue men on February 16. As per the report published by PTI news agency, he was actually hit in the knee from a powerful shot made by Hardik Pandya.
“During the training session, a powerful blow-from Pandya causable to minor accidental, but rather odd, Pant out on the knee. The 27-year-old ‘keeper was obviously in pain, but physio Kamlesh Jain paid attention, with Pandya himself coming out to check on junior Pant-according to PTI report Sunday. In the end, it was nothing serious, since shoeless Pant padded up soon after the starting team batsmen have completed batting sessions,” said the PTI report.
Rishabh Pant got hit on his knees 👀
— Nikhil (@TheCric8Boy) February 16, 2025
– hope this is not serious 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Nz4e93Jf1b
Pant is in the Champions Trophy squad of India for the first time in his career. However, this keeper from Delhi may find it hard to start for the Rohit Sharma-led side in the eight-team tournament beginning February 19.
With over 500 runs in the ODI World Cup 2023, KL Rahul provides India first-choice wicketkeeping for one-day formats. After playing all three ODIs of the home series against England last week, it was pretty obvious that Rahul would start ahead of Pant in the eight-team mega event.
In the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India will open its campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and the high-voltage Group A match against Pakistan is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 23. In the last Champions Trophy match played between India and Pakistan in June 2017, Pakistan hammered India by 180 runs in the final to win the 2017 edition of the tournament.
India’s third and final Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy is against New Zealand in Dubai on March 2. If India finishes in the top two of the Group A points table, then the Rohit Sharma-led side will play its semi-final match on Tuesday (March 4) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The final of the Champions Trophy 2025 will be played on March 9 in Dubai if India qualifies for it; else, Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the summit clash
