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'Rishabh Pant is just unlucky that both of them are there...': Former India captain feels there is no room for fiery wicketkeeper in playing XI

Farokh Engineer called Rishabh Pant a 'destroyer' but considers him unlucky that KL Rahul is doing well and India have plenty all-rounders in the team.

Sports Tak

• Sun • 09 Mar 2025

Rishabh Pant of India keeps during a India Nets Session on February 28, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Highlights:

Rishabh Pant has warmed the benches in Champions Trophy 2025.

KL Rahul played a crucial knock in the semifinal against Australia.

Rahul has been tasked with the no.6 role in the ODIs.

India's fiery wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has not been part of the playing XI in the ODIs this year. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir have backed KL Rahul ahead of Pant and so far in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, it has paid dividends. Former India captain Farokh Engineer sympathises with Pant as he considers him unlucky to not get a chance in the playing XI.

“For India, it is a very healthy position to be in. Rahul has not done much wrong. Rishabh is very good, a batter who is a destroyer. He is just unlucky that both of them are there at the same time,” Engineer said during a felicitation ceremony.

“There is an argument that Rishabh can come in as an additional batter, but India have got many all-rounders. There is no room in the playing XI. It is wonderful to see Indian cricket thrive and I am proud of it,” he added.

Rahul's ODI numbers of late

Pant's last ODI appearance was against Sri Lanka in August 2024. In the ODI series, Rahul was backed despite scores of 2 and 10 in first two games. In the third ODI, he scored 40. Batting at no.6 to make room for left-handed batter Axar Patel, Rahul delivered with scores of 41 not out, 23, and 42 not out against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia. He played a crucial role in the semifinal runchase after Virat Kohli lost his wicket.

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Engineer compares Chakravarthy to legendary bowler

Engineer has been impressed with Varun Chakravarthy who took a fifer against New Zealand on Champions Trophy debut and followed it up with a stellar performance in the semifinal including the dangerous Travis Head's wicket. He went on to compare him with legendary spinner BS Chandrasekhar. The 87-year-old is also happy to see India playing with four spinners.

“I think so, yeah, because my T20 series went well, probably they thought that the pitches in Dubai might be slower and I might be of some use for the team and that was the thinking behind it and yeah, it has worked this match,” he said.

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“India have class spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Varun. You know what, Varun reminds me of BS Chandrasekhar. It is wonderful that India are playing to their strengths (by using four spinners). Horses for courses depending on the pitches they are playing.”

India are likely to go into the final against Mitchell Santner-led side with four spinners as well.