The India players, though, allowed their contrasting approaches to be glimpsed during the team’s first training session for the Champions Trophy in Dubai. Captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli worked to fine-tune their techniques while the bowlers, including Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami, posed their own problems, so Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer opted to go on the offensive, hitting powerful ones, especially against the spinners. Their impressive hitting sent most deliveries sailing over the boundary as the duo made a statement. Rishabh Pant was also in fine touch.
But one of Hardik Pandya’s powerful shots unfortunately hit Rishabh Pant on the knee, with the session turning worrying. Immediately, the team’s physio came to the scene; Kamlesh Jain rushed to the scene when he saw the freak injury. Visibly concerned, Pandya stepped out of the nets to check on Pant. But the injury was not serious, having worried over Pant’s availability for the Champions Trophy, which was the incident. Pant then took to the field again after a quick medical check, so everybody was reassured by his resilience. Even BCCI uploaded a video of him in which he was spotted with his helmet on, which means he was fit and ready to play.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had already announced Pant as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, having already confirmed that Pant will keep the gloves in the forthcoming England ODI series and the Champions Trophy. Despite Agarkar’s statement, there was uncertainty about Pant’s place as Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir backed KL Rahul.
Specifically, continuity was a priority, and so they kept on as designated wicketkeeper even after Rahul’s standout performance in India’s run to the 2023 World Cup final. Rahul played in all Tests in the recent home series against England.
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