After an intense contest between the two nations in the T20I format, India and England are set to face each other for a 3-match One-day International (ODI) series with the first ODI currently underway at Nagpur. The next stop of the series is set to be in Cuttack and the last ODI will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
As the preparations for the crucial series begins, an important decision which the Indian team has to take will be regarding the playing combination and the number of batters the team is ready to accommodate. In the midst of a tough call for the team, a valuable advice has popped up from the former batting coach of the Indian team which has emerged as a major talking point in the cricketing community.
Sanjay Bangar picks between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant
Amidst a difficult choice of choosing the top-choice as the team’s wicket-keeper against England in the ODI series, Sanjay Bangar, the former batting coach of the Indian cricket team, has opened up on his choice as the team’s wicket-keeper during the limited overs challenge against England. According to Bangar, owing to the experience and the dynamics he brings in limited overs format, KL Rahul is the perfect choice for India as a wicket-keeper batter for the ODI series.
“If you cast your mind back to the way KL Rahul has performed not only as a batsman but also as a wicketkeeper. Some of the catches and the way he kept in the (2023) World Cup was simply fabulous. Rishabh Pant, no doubt, is a very, very exciting talent. But currently, I believe that the team would start with KL in the lineup based on the performances that he’s given in the middle overs as well as his exploits as a wicketkeeper,” Bangar said during a discussion on Star Sports.
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The ongoing dilemma for India’s ODI squad
Evidently, the struggle of having to pick one between Rahul and Pant has become persistent in the Indian team with both players showcasing impeccable skills both as batters and behind the stumps as well. Rahul has featured in 77 ODIs for the team while Pant has been in the Indian squad for 31 ODI matches in his career so far. The two players have also played simultaneously in the post, but Bangar is opposed to such an arrangement between the two players.
“I don’t think both can play in the single line-up. Generally because of the makeup of the team is right-hand dominant, at least in the top six, and we’ve seen in the past how Jadeja has been used in the batting at four or five according to the needs and situation of the game. So, they have that luxury of Jadeja at number seven who can obviously fit in and do the role of a left-hander through the middle overs if the situations arise wherein teams rely on left-arm spinners or leg-spinners. So, yes, there is an option in Jadeja and because of that I think Rishabh Pant may still find it difficult to straightaway break in the playing eleven,” Bangar concluded.
The ODI series against England is India’s last stop before featuring in thematch-officials-for-the-icc-champions-trophy-2025/” data-wpel-link=”internal” target=”_self”> Champions trophy 2025. India will begin its campaign to win the coveted tournament on February 20 against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Stadium. Following which, the Indian side will play against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23 before playing their final group-stage match against New Zealand on March 2.
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