KL Rahul opens up on Rishabh Pant and Ruturaj Gaikwad's return to Indian ODI side

Overview

• In the absence of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul will lead India in the ODI series against South Africa
• Likewise, the series will witness the return of Rishabh Pant and Ruturaj Gaikwad to the 50-over national side
• Ahead of the first ODI in Rachi, the Indian skipper for the ODI series opened up on the duo

In the absence of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul will lead India in the ODI series against South Africa. Likewise, the series will witness the return of Rishabh Pant and Ruturaj Gaikwad to the 50-over national side. Ahead of the first ODI in Rachi, the Indian skipper for the ODI series opened up on the duo.

Ahead of the first ODI between India and South Africa in Ranchi, Rahul showed up in the press conference. The Indian skipper for the series didn't give anything away on the combination, in regard to him, Pant, and wicketkeeping. However, he confirmed that Pant will keep wickets if he plays.

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"You’ll get to know tomorrow who will play - whether it’s him or me behind the stumps - but obviously, he is good enough to play as a batter as well, but if he is in the eleven, then obviously he will take the gloves, and I will be in the field," Rahul said in the press conference.

"Rutu is obviously a top-class player," - KL Rahul

Pant has been out of action in ODIs since the series against Sri Lanka in 2024. On the other hand, Gaikwad has returned to the side after winning the Player of the Series Award against South Africa A. Rahul termed him a 'top-class player' and added that Gaikwad has done well in the limited opportunities he has gotten.

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"Rutu is obviously a top-class player. We have all seen that whatever limited opportunities he has received, he has utilised them well and shown what he can do," Rahul added. Given Iyer and Gill's absence, Pant and Gaikwad might get a chance in the first ODI against the Proteas.