New Delhi: Before India’s crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group A match against New Zealand on Sunday, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate shared an update on Rohit Sharma’s condition. Addressing the media in Dubai, ten Doeschate confirmed that Rohit is handling his injury well. “He’s doing fine. As you can see, he’s been batting and even did some fielding earlier. It’s an injury he has dealt with before, so he knows how to manage it effectively, and he’s staying on top of it,” he stated.
The conversation also touched upon the wicketkeeping options of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. While Pant has been on the sidelines, ten Doeschate admitted that selecting the final XI at this level is always a challenging task.
“It’s been very hard on Rishabh not playing, but that’s the nature of sport at this level. KL’s been good. He didn’t get many chances, and when you’re batting at six or seven, it’s difficult to get proper opportunities,” he explained.
However, the former Netherlands international praised Rahul for delivering in crucial moments.
“Obviously, the third ODI in India, he did really well, and that knock against Bangladesh proved crucial in the end,” he remarked.
With India having two top-quality wicketkeepers, ten Doeschate stressed the importance of keeping Pant ready for any opportunity.
“We’ve got to keep Rishabh up and running. We never know when we might need him, but having two wicketkeepers of that calibre is certainly a great advantage,” ten Doeschate concluded.
India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter, KL Rahul, acknowledged feeling the pressure of Rishabh Pant waiting in the wings for his opportunity. With a player of Pant’s caliber on the bench, Rahul admitted that there is always a “temptation” to include either him or the explosive left-hander in the playing XI.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir and his regime’s decision to prioritize KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant has sparked divided opinions among fans and former cricketers. While some have supported the management’s choice to retain Rahul in the ODI setup, others have advocated for Pant, highlighting his game-changing ability in the limited-overs format.
Rahul has finally opened up about playing ahead of Rishabh Pant, acknowledging the pressure that comes with the competition. The experienced batter made it clear that he isn’t trying to compete with Pant but is instead focused on performing to the best of his ability and staying true to his game.
“I won’t lie—there is pressure. He’s obviously a very, very talented player, and we’ve all seen what he can do. He can change the game quickly with his aggressive style. So yes, there’s always the temptation for the team, the captain, and the coach to decide between playing him or me,” Rahul admitted during a press conference on Friday.
In the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, Rahul has embraced his role as a wicketkeeper-batter. In India’s tournament opener against Bangladesh, he continued his impressive form with a composed 41* off 47 deliveries, striking a solitary four and two towering sixes.
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