Pant Avoids Champions Trophy Injury After Pandya’s Freak Shot

During India’s first net session for the Champions Trophy in Dubai, a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya unexpectedly struck Rishabh Pant on his knee. This mishap occurred amidst a session where players were preparing intensively for the upcoming Champions Trophy. While Virat Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma worked on their technique, facing bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer took a more aggressive approach. They sent most deliveries over the fence, displaying their aggressive batting style in preparation for the Champions Trophy.

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Immediate Attention from Team Physio for Champions Trophy Preparation

The sudden injury raised immediate concerns over Pant’s fitness ahead of the Champions Trophy. Team physio Kamlesh Jain quickly attended to Pant after the impact, while a visibly concerned Hardik Pandya came out of the nets to check on his teammate. Despite the severity of the incident, doctors soon confirmed that the injury wasn’t serious. Pant, showing resilience, later padded up and prepared to resume his practice, reassuring fans about his fitness.

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Pant’s Recovery and Return to Training

Following the injury, Pant wore his helmet in a BCCI “highlights” video, showing that he had recovered and was fit to continue his training. Seeing him back on his feet boosted the confidence of both the team and the fans, further confirming that the injury was not a major concern and would not affect his participation in the Champions Trophy.

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KL Rahul Retains Wicketkeeper Role, Pant’s Opportunity Delayed

The ongoing wicketkeeper debate in the Indian team gained attention after Pant’s injury scare. Earlier, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar had confirmed that Pant would be India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for both the England ODI series and the Champions Trophy. However, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir chose to back KL Rahul for the role to maintain continuity in the team, especially after Rahul’s stellar performances during the 2023 World Cup..

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Rahul’s Strong Performance in England Series

KL Rahul, who played a crucial role in India’s run to the World Cup final, retained his position as the wicketkeeper for the England series. Despite some criticism about Pant’s exclusion, particularly from former head coach Ravi Shastri, who suggested Pant should have been included in the squad amid Rahul’s struggles in the first two matches, Rahul responded to his critics by scoring 40 runs off 29 balls in the final match of the series.

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Gambhir’s Clarification on Wicketkeeper Position

At the end of the England series, Gautam Gambhir reaffirmed Rahul’s position as the team’s No. 1 wicketkeeper. Gambhir emphasized that while Pant would get his opportunity in the future, at the moment, KL Rahul had done well enough to keep his spot. He also added that India could not afford to play two wicketkeeper-batters in the same lineup, making it clear that Pant’s chance would come at a later time.

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