Rishabh Pant Or KL Rahul As Wicketkeeper In Playing 11? Here's What Rohit Sharma Had To Say
KL Rahul took on the wicketkeeping duties in ODIs during Rishabh Pant's absence. With Pant's return, India must now choose one player to be the sole wicketkeeper in the playing XI.
T20 World Cup winner Rohit Sharma returns to captaincy duties as India begins a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting on Friday (August 2) in Colombo. A major dilemma for India ahead of the ODI series will be deciding on the wicketkeeper's role.
Ahead of the series opener, Captain Sharma faces a crucial decision on whether to select Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper in the playing XI.
KL Rahul took on the wicketkeeping duties in ODIs during Rishabh Pant's absence. With Pant's return, India must now choose one player to be the sole wicketkeeper in the playing XI.
In a press conference ahead of IND vs SL 1st ODI in Colombo, Rohit Sharma said: "I'll need to discuss with the head coach. You’ll see it tomorrow when we play the game".
Choosing between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant is a tough decision for the Indian team management. However, Rohit Sharma expressed his satisfaction with this "problem of plenty."
"It's a tough call. Both are quality players. They (Pant and Rahul) are match-winners in their own way. It's always nice to have problems picking up the team like that. When you're discussing too much on who to pick or leave, then that means there’s quality in the team. Which I think is a good thing. I look forward to these problems till I'm captain."
Rohit Sharma stated that bilateral encounters, even against a team like Sri Lanka, are important contests in their own right and should not be seen merely as preparation for upcoming larger tournaments.
"We want to come here and play good cricket. This is no practice ground. We want to get something out of the series. It is as simple as that."
"For us, when we play a series or a game, we want to get something out of it as a team. If some batter did something different, or if the bowler did something else, we discuss about that in the dressing room.
"We want to get something out of a series, but not at the cost of [winning], showing no intent or purpose. Maintaining standard of Indian cricket is very important, and if you can maintain that and then end up losing, then that’s fine."
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