Team India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has said that there is pressure on him since he’s being preferred over a big name like Rishabh Pant in the ODI playing XI as well. He, however, added that he is not trying to compete with Rishabh Pant and he is also focused on giving his best to the team whenever he gets the chance.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Team India’s last 2025 Champions Trophy group match against New Zealand in Dubai, Rahul said (as quoted by India Today): “There is (competition with Pant), I won’t lie. He is a very talented player and has shown all of us what he can do and how aggressively he can play and how quickly he can change the game. So there is always a temptation in the team with the captain and the coach to think if they should play him or play me.”

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“For me, whenever I get the opportunity, I try and see what I can do best. I am not trying to compete with Rishabh. I am not trying to play like him, or I am sure when he gets a chance, he is not trying to play like anybody else. He is picked on the basis of how he can play, and the same applies to me,” he again added.

KL Rahul has also claimed that there are no fitness concerns over any player as well. He added that logically the Indian team should not
make any changes to the side as well.

“Fitness-wise, there are no concerns about anyone missing a game as far as I know. There are temptations to try different players before the semis, but I am not sure that will be the case. There is little time before the semifinals, so you would want players to get maximum game time. This is my perspective, but things could change. I am not part of the leadership group,” he concluded.