Sourav Ganguly Uncovers the Truth: Why Gautam Gambhir Chose KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in Champions Trophy 2025
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy saw some thrilling cricket, with India making a strong start to their campaign before being knocked out in the semis. The squad, led by Rohit Sharma, showed promise, but the debate about some key selection decisions continues to simmer. None more so than the decision to prefer KL Rahul as wicket-keeper batsman over Rishabh Pant.
Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and BCCI President, has now shed light on the thought process behind non- selection of Pant and the compromise that was made. In a recent interview, Ganguly revealed, "Gautam Gambhir, our chief selector, had a very clear vision for the tournament. He and we all were convinced that KL Rahul’s batting prowess and experience would be a vital asset in the tournament. While Rishabh Pant is a world-class player, Gambhir believed Rahul’s ability to adapt to different conditions and opposition would be a significant advantage."
According to Ganguly, Gambhir and the selection committee believed that Rahul’s ability to play both opening and middle-order was a significant plus, given the unpredictability of the English weather and the varying strengths of the opponents. "KL has shown he can play (both) Timely, effectively, and that was a major factor in his selection. Pant, on the other hand, has shown flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent in the past." explained Ganguly.
The former skipper also praised Pant’s incredible talent, stating, "Rishabh is an incredible talent, and we are counting on him to come good for us in the future. His wicket-keeping skills are top-notch, and we’re looking forward to him making a comeback into the side soon." He continued, "But for the Champions Trophy, Gambhir believed that Rahul’s all-round abilities would give us the edge we needed to excel in the tournament."
In a close contest, every ounce of dropped as the selectors deliberated on their 15-man squad. The ploy to select KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant boiled down to a simple calculation: Rahul’s adaptability, talent, and experience made him the better option for the Champions Trophy. Gambhir, with his vast knowledge of the game, advocated for Rahul’s selection, citing his ability to bat anywhere in the order, handle pace and spin, and captivate the crowd with his dashing strokeplay.
While Pant’s case was strong, the decision to prefer Rahul was about making a calculated bet on the latter’s composite skills, which have borne fruit in the past. Sourav Ganguly’s rare insights now shed light on the intricacies of India’s selection process, revealing the depth of thought and expertise that goes into selecting a team for a major international tournament. As fans continue to debate the merits of the decision, one thing is clear: the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy selection committee left no stone unturned in crafting a formidable squad, and their decisions will continue to shape the future of Indian cricket.
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In the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, India made a strong start to their campaign but were knocked out of the semifinals. The squad, led by Rohit Sharma, showed promise, but the debate about some key selection decisions continues to simmer. Non-selection of Rishabh Pant and the compromise to select KL Rahul was a major talking point. Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and BCCI President, without revealed the thought process behind the decision.
Ganguly explained that Gautam Gambhir, the chief selector, had a clear vision for the tournament and believed Rahul’s batting prowess and experience would be a vital asset. Although Pant is a world-class player, Gambhir was convinced that Rahul’s ability to adapt to different conditions and opposition would be a significant advantage. Rahul’s versatility, alongside his experience in playing opening and middle-order slots, was a significant plus.
Ganguly added that Rahul has shown he can play progressively, which was a major factor in his selection. Pant, on the other hand, has shown flashes of brilliance but has been inconsistent in the past. Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee believed Rahul’s ability to handle the unpredictable English weather and the varying strengths of the opponents would be a deciding factor in the tournament.
Ganguly also praised Pant, stating that he is an incredible talent and is counting on him to come good for India in the future. He concluded that Pant’s wicket-keeping skills are top-notch, and the team is looking forward to his comeback into the side soon. However, for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Gambhir believed Rahul’s all-round abilities would give India the edge needed to excel in the tournament.
The decision to select KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant boiled down to a simple calculation: Rahul’s adaptability, talent, and experience made him the better option. Gambhir’s vast knowledge of the game influenced his decision, citing Rahul’s ability to bat anywhere in the order, handle pace and spin, and entertain the crowd with his strokeplay.
