Regardless of Rishabh Pant‘s return to the ODI squad, KL Rahul will proceed as India’s wicketkeeper for the ODI collection in opposition to England and certain for the Champions Trophy as properly, India captain Rohit Sharma confirmed.
Rahul took on wicketkeeping duties throughout India’s 2023 World Cup marketing campaign in Pant’s absence whereas he was recovering from a automotive accident. Though Rahul carried out properly within the event, Pant made a profitable comeback to the T20I squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, which India gained in Barbados.
Rohit emphasised that Rahul has confirmed his value within the ODI format and earned his place within the enjoying XI for the England collection. He additionally famous that Pant’s return gives the group with flexibility in choice, calling it a “good headache” to have.
“Look, clearly KL has been conserving wickets for us within the ODI format for a variety of years now and he is accomplished fairly properly. , in the event you have a look at the final 10 or 15 ODIs, he is accomplished precisely what the group required him to do.
“Rishabh is properly, you understand, he is there. , we have an possibility of enjoying both of them. Each are fairly able to profitable video games on their very own. So it is a good headache to have whether or not to play KL or Rishabh. However clearly what we have now accomplished up to now, having that continuity can also be essential for us. So that’s the place we stand as a group,” mentioned Rohit whereas addressing the press convention forward of the primary ODI in opposition to England in Nagpur.
Rohit acknowledged that the group had restricted ODI matches final yr however affirmed their dedication to enjoying aggressive cricket.
“There’s a sure sort of cricket that we need to play, sure model of cricket we need to play and whether or not it implies that we have now to go and do what we did within the World Cup, we’ll try to try this.
However once more, the World Cup was one-and-a-half years again, you understand. So clearly we have to regroup as a gaggle now and take into consideration what we have to do right here. Clearly, there’s numerous expertise within the squad so you’ll be able to’t hold telling them precisely how it is advisable to put together for each collection. They perceive what is predicted of the group. So, there’s not a lot discuss what sort of strategy we need to have.
These guys know precisely what’s required of every one among us. So it is nearly coming collectively now as a result of it has been some time since we performed this format. So, it is nearly coming collectively and attempting to do the place we left off in the course of the World Cup. If it takes a bit of little bit of time. So we get, you understand, it is not straightforward to begin what we did within the World Cup. As I mentioned, the World Cup was one-and-a-half years in the past. So we have to try to take into consideration what we have to do right here now and begin recent,” mentioned Rohit.
The India captain outlined the reasoning behind deciding on leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy within the ODI squad, regardless of already having Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel within the lineup.
“He has actually proven one thing totally different. I perceive that it’s in T20 format, however he is clearly obtained one thing totally different about him. So we simply needed to have an possibility and see what we are able to do with it. Clearly, in the course of the collection it presents us a possibility to play him at some stage and see what he’s able to.
When requested if the group administration is contemplating Chakravarthy for the Champions Trophy, Rohit responded that whereas he is not at present specializing in Chakravarthy for the squad, the leg-spinner is actually in competition.
“Proper now we’re not eager about whether or not we will take him or not, however undoubtedly he shall be in competition. If issues pan out very well for us and he does what’s required, then undoubtedly there’s something that we want to consider,” he added.
India’s captain refused to speak about who all are within the image as replacements for a fast-bowling allrounder in case Hardik Pandya will get injured like he did within the 2023 World Cup. “Why do you’ve unfavorable ideas,” Rohit mentioned. “We must always have constructive ideas.
“Why would you like him to get injured? Let’s all pray that each participant is 100 per cent match and stays match,” he added.
