IND vs ENG: The discussion about who should be the wicketkeeper for Team India in the 50-over format is likely to keep going as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 gets closer.
KL Rahul’s Rest and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Spot
KL Rahul, who was a key batter in the ODI World Cup 2023, is expected to be given rest for the whole white-ball series against England. However, he is “guaranteed” a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy.
KL Rahul had a tough tour to Australia, where he showed his ability as a solid Test opener. He finished the tour with 276 runs at an average of 30.67. Afterward, he chose to skip Karnataka’s remaining knockout matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2024/25. It’s now highly likely that he will extend his rest until the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19. India has been placed in Group A, alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand, and co-hosts Pakistan.
“KL Rahul has been assured of his spot in the Champions Trophy. Hence, he will be rested from the England series,” a source told the Times of India.
KL Rahul’s Consistency in the Middle-Order
KL Rahul’s position in the team should never be in doubt, as he consistently scores whenever he gets the chance in the middle-order. With players like Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and possibly Shreyas Iyer occupying the top order, Rahul’s best spot is likely at number five. Since his return to ODIs in the Asia Cup 2023, he has scored 865 runs at an impressive average of 61.78. One possible reason for his absence could be that he is about to become a father!
In November 2024, he and his wife Athiya Shetty announced that they were expecting their first child. This situation is similar to when Indian captain Rohit Sharma missed the Perth Test during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to welcome his second child.
Sanju Samson’s Case for the Number Five Spot
Another option for the number five spot could be Sanju Samson, who has impressed as an opener in the Indian T20 squad. The Kerala player has performed well in his opportunities, scoring 510 runs at an average of 56.66. His most recent ODI appearance saw him score a century (108 against South Africa in Paarl).
The number five spot is still open, and either Rishabh Pant or Samson is likely to get a chance, with Pant being the more likely choice.
Here are the top run-scorers for India since the Asia Cup 2023, featuring KL Rahul:
| Player | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 20 | 1029 | 131 | 54.15 | 125.18 | 1 | 9 | 110 | 56 |
| Virat Kohli | 18 | 1008 | 122* | 72 | 92.47 | 4 | 7 | 91 | 13 |
| Shubman Gill | 20 | 891 | 121 | 52.41 | 98.23 | 2 | 7 | 93 | 24 |
| KL Rahul | 20 | 865 | 111* | 61.78 | 89.91 | 2 | 5 | 74 | 15 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 19 | 790 | 128* | 49.37 | 112.53 | 3 | 4 | 64 | 30 |
KL Rahul has scored 865 runs in 20 innings, with an impressive average of 61.78.
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