Former India captain Farokh Engineer recently commented on the current wicketkeeping scenario in the Indian cricket team, expressing sympathy for Rishabh Pant’s exclusion from the playing XI during the Champions Trophy 2025. Engineer noted that Pant’s omission is due to the simultaneous presence of other talented players, particularly KL Rahul, who has been favored in the wicketkeeper-batsman role. He stated, “Rahul has not done much wrong. Rishabh is very good, a batter who is a destroyer. He is just unlucky that both of them are there simultaneously.”
This sentiment aligns with the views of India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who has identified KL Rahul as the team’s primary wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy. Gambhir emphasized the difficulty of accommodating two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the XI, saying, “When you’ve got two wicketkeepers in the squad, you can’t play both… KL is the one who’s going to start.”
Despite his current exclusion, Pant’s dynamic batting style and previous performances make him a valuable asset for the team, keeping him in contention for future selections.
