The selection of India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has caused a lot of discussion among fans, experts, and former cricketers. While most of the team picks seem easy, the decision on who will be the wicket-keeper batter is still a point of disagreement. Three strong candidates are in the running for this spot: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson. However, two former cricketers, Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar, have made a bold call by leaving Rishabh Pant out of their 15-member squad for the tournament.
Why Rishabh Pant Was Excluded
Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar have both decided not to include Rishabh Pant in their squads for the Champions Trophy. Their decision has caused quite a stir, especially since Pant recently made his comeback to ODI cricket. Pant returned to playing ODIs in 2024 during India’s series against Sri Lanka, but both Manjrekar and Bangar have doubts about his place in the team.
Bangar’s Opinion on Pant
Sanjay Bangar, who served as India’s batting coach in the past, believes Pant is not ready for a spot in the Champions Trophy squad. Bangar pointed out that Pant had been away from cricket for a long period. Although Pant made a successful return to T20Is and Tests, he did not show consistent form in ODIs. Bangar strongly feels that KL Rahul should be the first-choice wicket-keeper for the team in the Champions Trophy. “Pant was away from cricket for a long time. He did make a good return in T20Is and Tests, but he never had that good form in ODI cricket. KL Rahul should be your first-choice keeper,” Bangar said on Star Sports, according to Hindustan Times.
Manjrekar’s View on the Backup Wicket-Keeper
Sanjay Manjrekar, known for his straightforward opinions, also agreed with Bangar’s view on Pant. However, Manjrekar backed Sanju Samson to be the backup wicket-keeper for India in the Champions Trophy. Even though Samson didn’t score many runs at the start of his career, Manjrekar believes he could be a valuable asset as a powerful hitter in the final overs of a match. “I have been a good believer in Samson. Yes, he wasn’t scoring runs initially and maybe he isn’t a fit down the order. But if India want a big hitter for the last 10 overs, and I agree with Sanjay Bangar on Pant,” Manjrekar explained.
Rishabh Pant’s Recent Form
Pant’s recent form in ODIs didn’t strengthen his case for the Champions Trophy. In the series against Sri Lanka, Pant played only one match. Batting at No. 4, he managed to score just six runs off nine balls. This performance left many questioning his readiness for a major tournament like the Champions Trophy.
Sanju Samson: A Controversial Alternative
While Samson has shown good performances in T20Is, he has not been able to convince everyone in ODIs. His recent actions have raised some concerns as well. Samson was left out of Kerala’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier 50-over domestic tournament, because he did not attend a required camp with the team. This incident has made some people question his commitment to the longer format of the game.