Big blow for India! Shubman Gill confirms star player down with illness ahead of Pakistan clash

India National Cricket Team vice-captain Shubman Gill on Saturday (February 22) shared some concerning news on Rishabh Pant ahead of their big clash against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant could not take part in the team’s practice session on Saturday, raising injury concerns ahead of the high-voltage Group A match against Pakistan on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

Shubman Gill confirms Rishabh Pant has viral fever ahead of India-Pakistan match

Speaking to the media, Shubman Gill confirmed that Rishabh Pant had a viral fever, and that’s why he didn’t attend the Men in Blue’s important practice session in Dubai on Saturday. It is being said that the team management will be closely monitoring Pant’s recovery.

विकेटकीपर पंत को वायरल हुआ है इसलिए वह आज अभ्यास सत्र में नहीं आए : गिल#INDvsPAK #ChampionsTrophy2025

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) February 22, 2025

Rishabh Pant warming bench in ODIs

However, Rishabh Pant has been warming bench since the recent ODI series at home against England. Pant has been overlooked by the team management to back their proven wicketkeeper KL Rahul in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Rahul contributed an unbeaten 41 runs off 47 balls in the Men in Blue’s six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their first match in the ongoing prestigious tournament. He is highly likely to retain his place in India’s XI when they face Pakistan in the high-octane clash on February 23 in Dubai.

Read Also: Shubman Gill struggling with added vice-captaincy responsibility? Batter breaks silence

On the other hand, Shubman Gill has been in red-hot form with the bat, as he continued his sublime form by hammering a stunning century against Bangladesh. Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 101 to help the Indian cricket team kick off the tournament on a winning note in Dubai.

KL Rahul has fantastic numbers in ODIs: Sourav Ganguly on ignoring Rishabh Pant

Notably, many have been slamming the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s decision to overlook the explosive left-handed Pant for Rahul, but the former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly backed the duo.

The former captain believes that Rahul's fantastic numbers in ODIs may have given him the edge over Pant as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.

Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI, “India is such a strong side, especially in batting. Pants are very good. But Rahul has fantastic numbers in ODIs. So, I think that's the reason Gautam Gambhir has backed Rahul. There's very little to choose between them (Rahul and Pant) because both are exceptional.”

Rahul and Pant's ODI stats comparison

Rahul has so far represented India in 81 ODIs and amassed 2944 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 88 with the help of seven hundreds and 18 fifties. Additionally, the Karnataka right-hander is also a reliable wicketkeeper and in Pant’s absence after his accident, he did fantastic job to cement his place in the ODI team.

On the other hand, Pant has 871 runs in 31 ODIs at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 106 to his name to date. The left-handed batter has also hammered one ton and five fifties in the ODIs. However, Rohit also didn’t deny the chance of Pant getting a chance in the tournament.