ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rishabh Pant's career under threat again? Wicketkeeper told to skip..

Team India suffered a potential setback ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as Rishabh Pant suffered a blow to his left knee during a practice session in Dubai. All-rounder Hardik Pandya struck Pant during the practice session on Sunday, February 16, and the wicketkeeper was seen limping slightly.

India recently secured a 3-0 series victory against England ahead of the Champions Trophy. KL Rahul played as the designated wicketkeeper-batter in all three matches. Rishabh Pant was not included in any of the games. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that Rahul will remain the first-choice wicketkeeper.

Rishabh Pant Seen Limping a Day After Knee Injury; Skips Wicketkeeping Practice

Rishabh Pant faced a scare during a training session when a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya struck him on the knee. Pandya was practicing his big-hitting skills against spinners. Pant appeared to be struggling and limped slightly. He received support from the team physio, Kamlesh Jain, and Pandya.

On Monday, Rishabh Pant seemed to be struggling during the net session in Dubai and limped slightly, as per a PTI report. He skipped wicketkeeping and fielding practice and focused on shadow batting while his teammates worked on high catches.

The southpaw missed and edged several balls when he came to bat. It is worth mentioning that he arrived without knee strapping but decided to strap his knee before starting his session.

KL Rahul Struggled with the Bat in First Two ODIs Against England

Rishabh Pant was unavailable for the 2023 ODI World Cup due to a car accident, and KL Rahul wore the wicketkeeping gloves. Rahul performed well behind the stumps and also impressed with the bat. Despite Pant’s return to international cricket, Rahul continues to be the first-choice keeper-batter in ODIs.

Rahul struggled with the bat in the first two ODIs against England, scoring only 12 runs while batting at No. 6. However, he bounced back in the final ODI in Ahmedabad, scoring 40 runs off 29 balls at No. 5, including three fours and a six. Rahul also took a catch and executed a stumping in the match.

KL Rahul Focusing on Sharpening Finishing Skills

It remains unclear whether Rahul will bat at No. 5 or 6 in the lineup. Rahul took the initiative to improve his finishing skills during the training session in Dubai. Rahul, who is known for his technical batting, adjusted his approach to focus on aggressive shots, effortlessly hitting sixes off nearly every delivery.

The Karnataka-born cricketer will have to accelerate the innings in the final overs, which will be crucial for India in the upcoming marquee tournament. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer also worked on improving his big-hitting skills, while Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, and skipper Rohit Sharma practiced stylish strokes.

India is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand for the tournament. Rohit Sharma’s team will play their first match against Bangladesh on February 20. They will then face Pakistan on February 23, before concluding their group stage with a game against New Zealand on March 2.

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Tim Southee predicts New Zealand's triumph in the tournament