Rohit Sharma declares clear winner between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul for India in ODIs

India captain Rohit Sharma has opened up about the debate over the wicketkeeper-batter position between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the upcoming ODI series. While he has not disclosed who will be chosen, Rohit Sharma hinted that KL Rahul might continue in the playing XI ahead of Rishabh Pant.

India is gearing up for a three-match ODI series against England, with the first game scheduled to be played in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6. The Indian squad features both Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul as wicketkeeper-batters, leading to discussions and debates about who should take on the role in the series.

KL Rahul Has Been Keeping Wickets for Us in the ODI Format - Rohit Sharma

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Rohit Sharma praised Rahul for his consistency and highlighted that he has fulfilled the team’s expectations in recent ODIs. Sharma also acknowledged Pant’s match-winning abilities and called it a "good headache" to choose between the two.

"Look, obviously KL has been keeping wickets for us in the ODI format for a number of years now and he's done pretty well. You know, if you look at the last 10 or 15 ODIs, he's done exactly what the team required him to do," Rohit Sharma said.

"Rishabh is well, you know, he's there. You know, we've got an option of playing either one of them. Both are quite capable of winning games on their own. So it's a good headache to have whether to play KL or Rishabh. But obviously looking at what we have done in the past, having that continuity is also very important for us. So that is where we stand as a team," Rohit Sharma went on to add.

KL Rahul Played as India’s Keeper-Batter During the 2023 ODI World Cup

India will take on England in a three-match ODI series, starting on February 6 in Nagpur. The series serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19. This will be India’s first ODI series since their 2-0 defeat to Sri Lanka in August last year.

With Pant unavailable due to a car accident, Rahul played as India’s keeper-batter during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rahul scored 452 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 90.76, including a century and two fifties. However, he managed only 108 runs at an average of 27 in his last five ODIs.

Comparison of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant's ODI Stats

KL Rahul has played 77 ODIs, scoring 2,851 runs in 72 innings at an average of 49.15 and a strike rate of 87.56. He has smashed seven centuries and 18 fifties, with a top score of 112 against New Zealand in 2020. As a wicketkeeper, Rahul has 57 dismissals.

On the other hand, Pant has featured in 31 ODIs, scoring 871 runs in 27 innings at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21. He has one century and five half-centuries, with his best of 125* coming against England in 2022. Pant has 24 dismissals as a wicketkeeper.

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