Rishabh Pant won’t play until… Sanjay Manjrekar feels
Wicketkeeper down with viral infection on eve of Champions Trophy clash vs Pakistan
Dubai: Rishabh Pant’s road to recovery has been nothing short of extraordinary. From surviving a near-fatal car accident to reclaiming his place in the Indian squad, the explosive wicketkeeper-batter seemed poised for a triumphant return. But despite his talent and resilience, Pant finds himself sidelined once again — this time, not just by selection choices but also by an untimely viral infection.
Any slender hopes of Pant making it to the clash against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy in Dubai evaporated on Saturday when he didn’t attend the training session due to a viral infection.
Rahul’s performances solidify his place
Despite his explosive batting and match-winning ability, the Indian team management has placed its faith in the consistent KL Rahul, keeping Pant as the backup wicketkeeper in One-Day Internationals. Rahul’s reliability with the bat, especially in pressure situations, has made him the preferred choice — a decision further cemented by his strong performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup and India’s Champions Trophy opener.
“India stayed with the player who has found a place in the team, and Rishabh Pant has not played in the last few games either. Until they find that Rahul is not really contributing, Pant will have to stay out,” Sanjay Manjrekar told Gulf News during the JioHotstar and Star Sports Press Room programme. “It shows the kind of quality India have.”
Debate over Pant’s exclusion
Despite Pant’s inconsistent record in ODIs, his fearless approach — something current coach Gautam Gambhir advocates — has fuelled calls for his return.
“Gautam Gambhir is picking his own team. I am just very upset that Rishabh Pant is not playing. I don’t know why. He’s a mercurial player who makes the other team nervous. They feel that he will single-handedly win the match. KL Rahul is a very good player but does not attract such fear from the opposition. You let Rishabh Pant down. If you let a good player enter this situation that he won’t play, the hero in him becomes zero,” former Indian pacer Atul Wassan told ANI.
For now, the team management has opted for stability over unpredictability, sticking with Rahul to keep the middle order steady. But as the Champions Trophy progresses, questions will persist: Is India ready to gamble on Pant’s brilliance, or will they continue with the security of Rahul’s consistency? The answer could shape India’s path to glory — or leave them wondering what could have been.
