Sourav Ganguly supports picking KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant for Champions Trophy

Former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly has said that KL Rahul’s impressive numbers in ODIs might have put him above in the pecking order as compared to Rishabh Pant to become the first-choice wicket-keeper of the team in the Champions Trophy 2025.

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir had asserted that Rahul will be donning the big gloves in the ICC event as Pant remains on the bench.

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“India are such a strong side, especially in batting. Pant is very good. But Rahul has fantastic numbers in ODIs. So, I think that’s the reason Gautam Gambhir has backed Rahul,” Ganguly said after he was announced as the brand ambassador of Vura, a construction chemical brand.

“There’s very little to choose between them (Rahul and Pant) because both are exceptional,” he added.

The former India captain also said that Virat Kohli could overcome his struggles against leg spin, while asserting that India will be the favourites to win the Champions Trophy title.

The former BCCI chief also backed Virat Kohli to overcome his leg-spin woes, while tipping India as favourites to bag the Champions Trophy title.

“India have five Shubman Gills from one, two, three, four, five, six — who can all score hundreds and win matches. When Axar Patel bats at five for India, can you imagine the depth?

“Yesterday, India was in a spot of bother, but then they had KL Rahul coming in. They had Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya… There’s batting after batting.