3 reasons why KL Rahul is included in India's playing XI for 1st ODI vs Sri Lanka over Rishabh Pant

KL Rahul got nod over Rishabh Pant in the first SL vs IND ODI in Colombo.

Ahead of the SL vs IND ODI series, India’s ODI captain Rohit Sharma and new head coach Gautam Gambhir had to deal with a crucial conundrum: picking the wicket-keeper batter between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.

Pant, who made his T20I comeback as the first-choice keeper-batter during the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, also made his comeback to the ODI squad for the first time since his car accident in December 2022. Rahul, though, had cemented his place after a terrific campaign in the Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.

Rohit and Gambhir went with Rahul over Pant. And there are proper reasons and justifications for their choice.

3 reasons why India went with KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in 1st SL vs IND ODI:

Rahul had an excellent WC 2023 and moved ahead of Pant in the pecking order

Rahul was given wicket-keeping duties and a position in the middle-order in the ODI side following Pant’s car accident. He repaid the trust of the selectors and management with terrific performances in the Asia Cup 2023 and World Cup 2023.

He averaged 84 in the Asia Cup and 75 in the World Cup. Rahul, thus, moved ahead of Pant in the pecking order when the left-hander returned to the ODI setup.

Rahul provides more solidity in the middle order while Pant is mercurial

As a batter, Rahul seems more solid and dependable than Pant, who tends to throw his wicket away with rash shots, regardless of whether he is new to the crease or is set. Pant is heavily mercurial, while Rahul, who also had a successful stint as an opener, is a more assured middle-order batsman.

Rahul can do the anchor as well as the finisher role when required

One of Rahul’s best innings in the middle order came in India’s opening match of the World Cup against Australia. He scored 97* runs off 115 balls after India had lost three wickets for only two runs. He along with Virat Kohli saw off the chase of 200 runs against a strong Aussie bowling attack.

Later in the same tournament, Rahul produced a few fantastic cameos as a finisher, including a breezy knock of 102 off 64 against the Netherlands.

While Pant is capable of doing the finishing job, he is yet to prove himself as a reliable batter during a collapse and in the anchor role.

With India having only two ODI series to play before the Champions Trophy 2025, they have decided to continue with Rahul as their first-choice keeper-batter.

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