KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant
KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant. (Photo: Twitter)

Legendary India National Cricket Team batter Sunil Gavaskar has come up with his verdict on the KL Rahul vs Rishabh Pant debate. Rahul, Pant and Sanju Samson are the players vying for the No. 5 wicket-keeper’s spot in the Indian ODI team.

Rishabh Pant has been the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs for quite some time. However, the 25-year-old’s white-ball numbers are not very impressive and many have called for his exit from the limited-overs setup.

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Pant was recently released from India’s ODI squad ahead of the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh and Rahul was handed the wicket-keeper’s responsibility. At the post-match press conference, Rahul also revealed that the team management has asked him to be ready to play the wicket-keeper’s role in the team.

Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar (Image Credits: Twitter)

Speaking to Sony Sports during the first ODI of the three-match series between India and Bangladesh, Gavaskar said:

He has been batting for India at No.5 with Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening the batting most of the time and Virat Kohli at No.3. He has been batting at No.5 for a while now. Maybe that is the position that he is looking to consolidate. What that does is it gives India the extra option. ”

All-rounder KL Rahul can keep wickets, he can open the batting and can bat at No.5 – Sunil Gavaskar

KL Rahul
Photo Credit: (Twitter/BCCI)

Batting legend Gavaskar lavished praise on Rahul, saying that he is an all-rounder as he can keep the wickets, open the batting and can bat in the middle order. He added that Rahul’s presence in the XI helps India to include an extra bowler. Also, Gavaskar feels that Rahul can be the perfect finisher for India in ODIs.

“If you have somebody as a middle-order option who can keep wickets then you can look at taking another bowler. I call him an all-rounder because he can keep wickets, he can open the batting and can bat at No.5. KL Rahul is an all-rounder as far as I am concerned. And someone like him with the kind of experience he has and the range of shots he has, he is the kind of finisher you want at No.5 or 6,” he said.

IND vs SA 2022
Photo Credit: (Getty Images)

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Sonanchal Gautam is the Assistant Content Manager at Cricketaddictor. He is a professional Wrestling and Hip-hop enthusiast.