'He Has Been Good': India's Asst. Coach Breaks Silence On KL Rahul Vs Rishabh Pant Situation Ahead Of IND vs NZ CT 2025 Clash

Champions Trophy 2025: The internet is divided on who should stand behind the wickets for the Indian Cricket Team in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. However, the Indian team management has preferred KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in the ongoing ICC tournament. Previously, in the T20 World Cup 2024, it was Pant who got an opportunity to keep the wickets for the ‘Men in Blue’

In the first two games of the 15-match ICC tournament, India clinched comfortable wins over Bangladesh and Pakistan, confirming their spot in the semi-final. Team India's final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 2. The ‘Men in Blue’ have already qualified for the knockout stage of the ongoing marquee event and the match against New Zealand will allow them to check their bench strength as well.

KL Rahul has been India's first choice wicketkeeper in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup. During India's opening CT 2025 match against Bangladesh, the 32-year-old scored 42 runs from 47 balls at a strike rate of 87.23. He didn't get the chance to bat against Pakistan, as star batter Virat Kohli single-handedly clinched a six-wicket victory over India's arch-rivals with a stellar ton.

ALSO READ: Injury Scare For Rohit Sharma's Team India Ahead Of Crucial New Zealand Game? Massive Change Expected

Ryan ten Doeschate Opens Up On KL Rahul-Rishabh Pant Comparison

Speaking to the reporter in Dubai, Team India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted that it has been very hard on Pant for not getting a chance to play in the Champions Trophy 2025. The former Netherlands cricketer also hailed Rahul and said that he has been "good" in the ongoing tournament and didn't get much opportunity earlier. Doeschate further explained that the team management needs to keep Pant motivated since one never knows when they need him.

"It's been very hard on Rishabh not playing. But that's the nature of sport at this level. KL has been good. He didn't get many chances... we've got to keep Rishabh up and running. We never know when we're going to need him. But certainly to have two wicket-keepers of that calibre is a nice thing to have." Doeschate said as quoted by PTI.

ALSO READ: Check Out IND vs NZ Full Squads, Pitch Report, H2H & Details You Need To Know

KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant's ODI Career in Numbers

Rahul made his ODI debut in 2016 against Zimbabwe. Following that, he has scored 2944 runs at a strike rate of 87.74 from 82 50-over matches. On the other hand, Pant played his maiden ODI game against West Indies in 2018 and scored 871 runs from just 31 50-over matches at a strike rate of 106.21.