Rohit and Kohli’s Performance Under Spotlight: Who Should be Wicketkeeper – Rahul or Pant?

The upcoming ODI series against England is a crucial chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to regain their form before the Champions Trophy.

Kohli has faced challenges, especially with his Test form, where he has often been dismissed while chasing balls outside off. Recently, he was seen working with Sanjay Bangar, the former batting coach, to iron out his technique.

When it comes to ODIs, both Rohit and Kohli excel. Rohit is a powerful opener, and Kohli thrives at No. 3. In his last series against Sri Lanka, Rohit scored 157 runs over three innings with a strike rate of 141.44. Kohli, while not as prolific in that series, showcased remarkable form in the World Cup, amassing 765 runs at an average of 95.62. He is also close to reaching 14,000 ODI runs, needing just 94 more runs in 283 innings. This milestone would put him among legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara, who achieved it in over 350 innings.

In the batting lineup, Rohit and Shubman Gill are likely to open the innings, followed by Kohli and Shreyas Iyer. Hardik Pandya is expected to come in at No. 6, which leaves the wicketkeeper-batter position open for either KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant.

Rahul has been the main wicketkeeper since Pant’s injury in late 2023. He played in two ODIs during the Sri Lanka tour but scored modestly, with returns of 31 and a duck. Pant, who returned from injury, didn’t fare much better, with scores of 6 runs in his return match.

Their recent Test forms are quite similar: Rahul got 276 runs in ten innings, while Pant accumulated 255 in nine innings. Both were excluded from the T20I squad against England, indicating a possible shift in focus for this ODI series.

India’s decision to choose between Rahul and Pant influences their batting strategy. If they select Rahul, the top six might lack a left-handed batsman unless they promote an allrounder. Selecting Pant offers that balance but may necessitate leaving Shreyas Iyer out of the playing eleven.

Another decision hinges on Ravindra Jadeja’s inclusion. He hasn’t played ODIs since the World Cup, while Axar Patel and Washington Sundar have been utilized as spin allrounders. Axar served as vice-captain in the last ODI series, and both he and Washington performed well with their bowling. Washington has an advantage with his off-spin compared to Jadeja and Axar’s left-arm spin.

Three bowlers are returning from injuries, adding to team dynamics. Jasprit Bumrah has been sidelined since the Sydney Test but is included for the final ODI to test his fitness. Kuldeep Yadav recently made a comeback after surgery and showed promise in his return match. Mohammed Shami is also back in action after recovering from ankle surgery, participating sparingly in the recent T20Is.

Arshdeep Singh, still new to ODIs, along with Shami, are expected to lead the bowling attack against England. If Bumrah plays in the third ODI, one of them may see action limited.

As the series unfolds, the selections made will undoubtedly impact India’s strategy in the Champions Trophy ahead.

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