Former India pacer Atul Wassan has voiced his disagreement with Gautam Gambhir’s selection choices for the Champions Trophy 2025, particularly the decision to persist with KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant in ODIs. Speaking to ANI, Wassan questioned why Gambhir continues to prefer Rahul despite Pant’s explosive capabilities. India are set to face Pakistan in a crucial group-stage encounter on Sunday, February 23, and once again, Rahul is expected to take up the wicketkeeping duties.
Wassan believes that keeping Pant out of the playing XI for an extended period could severely impact his confidence. He warned that a player of Pant’s calibre, who has the ability to change games single-handedly, should not be left on the sidelines. He further argued that opposition teams fear Pant because of his unpredictable and match-winning abilities, making him an asset that India should utilize.
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“You let Bangladesh score 228 after they were 35/5. If you allow such slip-ups, stronger teams will punish you. Gautam Gambhir is picking his own team, and I’m deeply frustrated that Rishabh Pant is not playing. I don’t understand what’s happening. Pant is a game-changer, and teams fear him because they know he can win a match from any situation,” Atul Wassan told ANI.
While acknowledging KL Rahul’s talent, Wassan questioned why he continues to feature across all formats, potentially at the expense of Pant.
“KL Rahul is a great player, but what do they see in him that he is playing Tests, ODIs, and everything? Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant is sitting on the bench. This is how you damage a player. If a talented cricketer constantly wonders whether he will play or not, his confidence will take a hit, and he will go from hero to zero,” Atul Wassan stated.
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Rahul was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Pant’s absence and performed well, scoring 452 runs at an average of 49.77. He has since solidified his position in the ODI side. His recent knock against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy 2025—an unbeaten 41 off 47 balls on a challenging Dubai pitch—further cemented his role in the squad.
