Synopsis
As India gears up for the ODI series against England, Sanjay Bangar suggests that KL Rahul should be the preferred wicketkeeper over Rishabh Pant based on past performances and team dynamics.Key Takeaways
- KL Rahul is favored over Rishabh Pant for the ODI series based on past performances.
- The wicket-keeping decision will impact the team's strategy for the Champions Trophy.
- Bangar believes India cannot field both Rahul and Pant in the same lineup.
- Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli must find form before the Champions Trophy.
- Young bowler Arshdeep Singh has a crucial role in India's pace attack.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) As India gears up for the ODI series against England commencing in Nagpur on Thursday, the team faces a pivotal choice between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as their primary wicketkeeper-batter.
The decision regarding India’s ODI wicket-keeping is crucial, as it will significantly impact the team composition for the Champions Trophy matches in Dubai. Given his past achievements, it is anticipated that Rahul will be favored over Pant for the upcoming series, as per Sanjay Bangar, a former Indian player and erstwhile batting coach.
“In my opinion, the player who has excelled in that role should get the initial opportunity. Reflecting on KL Rahul’s performance, he has been outstanding not just as a batsman but also as a wicketkeeper. His catches and keeping during the World Cup were exceptional,” stated Bangar.
“While Rishabh Pant is undoubtedly an exciting talent, I believe the team will opt for KL in the starting eleven, based on his contributions in the middle overs and his wicketkeeping prowess,” Bangar, an expert with Star Sports Network, remarked during a virtual media interaction with IANS.
After Pant’s recovery from a serious car accident, Rahul has taken up the role of India’s primary keeper-batter in ODIs since August 2023, showcasing himself as a solid middle-order bat and dependable keeper during the 50-over World Cup, where he scored 452 runs and achieved 17 dismissals.
During the 2-0 ODI series loss in Sri Lanka in August 2024, Rahul was the keeper-batter for the first two matches, scoring 31 and 0. Pant participated in the third match, scoring six runs in his ODI return. If India continues with Rahul, they will lack a left-handed batter in their top six, making Pant’s inclusion beneficial for diversifying the batting order.
Bangar believes it’s impractical for both Rahul and Pant to be in the same eleven, noting that the team could elevate one of their spin-bowling all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja if needed in particular game scenarios.
“I don’t see both of them fitting into a single lineup. The team makeup is predominantly right-handed in the top six, and we’ve seen Jadeja effectively utilized in batting roles based on the game’s requirements,” Bangar explained.
“They have the option of Jadeja at number seven, who can fill in as a left-handed option during the middle overs, particularly against teams with left-arm spinners or leg-spinners. Therefore, I believe Rishabh Pant may find it challenging to secure a spot in the playing eleven,” he added.
The ODI series against England also presents a crucial opportunity for captain Rohit Sharma and star player Virat Kohli to regain form ahead of the eight-team Champions Trophy, which India last claimed in 2013. Both seasoned players struggled during the recent Test series in Australia and did not achieve notable results in their lone Ranji Trophy appearances for Mumbai and Delhi.
Bangar emphasized that Rohit and Kohli’s batting strategies against England will be a key indicator of their performance in the Champions Trophy. “Both these players are destined to be among the finest white-ball players in history. If you create a list of all-time greats in 50-over cricket, they are automatic selections,” he stated.
“Their past performances and the format will undoubtedly bolster their confidence in approaching this series. Rohit’s strategy at the top of the innings will be particularly interesting, especially given his recent string of low scores.”
“Observing their performance in the initial matches will provide insights into the strategies they will adopt for the 50-over format. The evaluation will extend beyond the ODI series to the Champions Trophy, allowing us to understand their approach and whether they revert to the methods that have ensured their consistency in ODI cricket,” he added.
With uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah’s availability for the Champions Trophy and Mohammed Shami’s workload being a critical concern, young left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh may play a significant role in India’s pace attack.
In the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, Arshdeep emerged as the leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets. He claimed eight wickets during the initial ten overs and took seven and five wickets in overs 11-40 and 41-50, respectively.
One of his standout performances included a five-wicket haul against Mumbai, where his victims were Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ayush Mhatre, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube.
Despite having played only eight ODIs for India, Bangar will closely observe how the young bowler utilizes the new ball and his effective bouncer in the upcoming series against England.
“He is now consistently playing in the 50-over format. For me, his performance with the new ball is crucial, as he has shown the ability to bowl effectively both at the start and towards the end of innings. However, in T20s, he bowls only a couple of overs at the beginning and the end,” Bangar noted.
“His effectiveness between overs three to eight will be key, particularly since the Kookaburra ball doesn’t swing much. He is likely to improve as he gains more experience. Notably, during the T20 World Cup, he showcased a commendable short ball. He can certainly evolve as he continues to play, and he is currently establishing himself as a regular ODI player, doing so quite well,” Bangar concluded.
The ODI series against England will be broadcasted on Disney+ Hotstar and various Star Sports channels from 1:30 PM.
