KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant? Robin Uthappa opines on India's wicket-keeper choice for ODI series vs Sri Lanka

Robin Uthappa reckons it will be a tough choice for the team management.

Former Indian batsman Robin Uthappa was unable to make his pick between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for India’s first-choice wicket-keeper for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka.

India will tour Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs. The ODI series will start on August 2, with all three matches set to be hosted at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

As India have only six ODIs left to play before the Champions Trophy 2025, the new head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma will have to make the choice of their preferred wicket-keeper between Rahul and Pant.

Pant is returning to the ODI setup since his car accident in December 2022. In Pant’s absence, Rahul had donned the gloves in ODIs and had a phenomenal World Cup 2023 campaign. He also led India to a 2-1 ODI series win in South Africa in December and kept wickets.

I wouldn’t mind having either one starting off: Robin Uthappa

Ahead of the India’s tour of Sri Lanka, former Indian batsman Robin Uthappa, while speaking to reporters in an interaction organized by the official broadcasters of India’s tour of Sri Lanka in India, Sony Sports Network, said it’s a tough choice to make a pick between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant for the wicket-keeper’s spot in the ODI series.

“It’s obviously going to be a tough choice between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant because both have been incredible and their numbers have been really good. Rahul’s numbers in ODI cricket have been exceptional, and Pant has just had an incredible T20 World Cup. His personal journey has been quite incredible over the last two and a half years. So it’s a tough choice. To be in Gambhir and Rohit’s shoes, it’s going to be a hard one,” Uthappa said to one of Khel Now’s questions.

“I wouldn’t mind having either one starting off. But I think, they still have to figure it out. As supporters of Indian cricket, we need to give them that time.” Uthappa added.

Uthappa further said that the new head coach Gambhir should be given some time to lock in his combination for the Champions Trophy.

“With this new combination of the leadership group, we need to see who is preferred. As players, every opportunity that comes their way is going to be a really important one and players will have to grab it with both hands. So wishing both of them the best of luck and I hope the best man wins,” the former batsman concluded.

Watch the live coverage of India’s tour of Sri Lanka, 7 PM onwards starting on 27th July 2024 LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 5 & Sony Sports Ten 1 in English, Sony Sports Ten 3 in Hindi and Sony Sports Ten 4 channels in Tamil & Telugu.

Sony Sports Network is the official broadcaster for India’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024 in India – comprising three T20Is & three ODIs.

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