India's star wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was asked the tough question about competition with Rishabh Pant for wicketkeeper's spot in Indian squad. However, he openly admitted the ongoing competition with Pant during India's pre-match press conference ahead of their final Champions Trophy group-stage clash against New Zealand. He conceded that the coaching staff and captain are frequently tempted to include Pant in the playing eleven.
KL Rahul opens up on competition with Rishabh Pant
In a frank discussion, Rahul described Pant as an exceptionally talented player. However, he clearly said that despite the internal competition, he remains committed to his own style of play and will not alter his approach. Rahul solidified his position at the No. 5 spot in the Indian ODI lineup during the 2023 ODI World Cup, delivering a strong performance with 452 runs at a notable average. He has also been the preferred wicketkeeper choice in the Champions Trophy, under the current team management led by Gautam Gambhir.
"There is (competition with Pant), I won't lie. He is a very talented player and has shown all of us what he can do and how aggressively he can play and how quickly he can change the game. So there is always a temptation in the team with the captain and the coach to think if they should play him or play me. For me, whenever I get the opportunity, I try and see what I can do best. I am not trying to compete with Rishabh. I am not trying to play like him, or I am sure when he gets a chance, he is not trying to play like anybody else. He is picked on the basis of how he can play, and the same applies to me," KL Rahul said in the pre-match press conference in Dubai.
Rahul also hinted that Pant's chances of playing in the Champions Trophy are slim, attributing this to the tournament's tight schedule. With only a single day's interval between India's last group match and the semi-finals, Rahul indicated that the team is likely to maintain its current playing eleven.
"Luckily I am not part of the leadership group. I don't have to make that decision. There will be some temptation to try out players who have not gotten a game. But I don't think that will happen in the Champions Trophy, because there is just one day's break between the final group-stage game and the semi-final. That is my version," Rahul added.
The seasoned batter also ended the suspense over Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami's availability for the upcoming clash against New Zealand, which is scheduled to be played on March 2 at the Dubai International cricket stadium.
"Fitness-wise, everything seems pretty okay. There are no real concerns about anyone missing, as far as I know. Everyone has been at the gym, everyone has been in training," Rahul concluded.
