Rishabh Pant Injury Update: Will Indian Wicketkeeper Play Champions Trophy 2025?
Just days before the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a fresh injury scare during a practice session in Dubai. And let’s just say, the timing couldn’t have been worse.
What happened to Rishabh Pant?
During India’s training at the ICC Academy, Pant was near the batting nets when a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya struck him on his left knee. The impact was immediate, and Pant was seen in visible discomfort, needing ice pack treatment right away. And if you’re an Indian fan, this is the last thing you want to hear.
Why is this a big deal?
Pant’s road to recovery from his 2022 car accident has been nothing short of remarkable, but injuries have been an unfortunate theme in his career lately. That accident left him with multiple injuries, including severe damage to his right knee, and now, with this fresh blow to his left knee, concerns about his match fitness are back in focus.
Also Read: Rachin Ravindra Injury Update: When will the New Zealand youngster return to the field?
Will Rishabh Pant play Champions Trophy 2025?
Despite the setback, Pant did return to the nets, showing that trademark resilience we’ve come to expect from him. But according to reports, he was limping and didn’t look 100% comfortable, which means his availability for India’s Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on February 20 remains up in the air.
How does this affect India’s plans?
Interestingly, head coach Gautam Gambhir recently hinted that KL Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the tournament, saying, “KL is our No. 1 wicketkeeper, and this is what I can say at the moment.” That might take some pressure off Pant, but his experience and explosive batting are still a huge asset to the team. If he’s not fully fit, India might have a tough call to make.
With the tournament around the corner, all eyes are now on Pant’s recovery. Will he shake this off and take the field, or will India have to rethink their plans? Time will tell, but this is definitely an unwanted headache for Rohit Sharma & Co.