Difficult to choose between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, both are match-winners: Rohit Sharma

India captain Rohit Sharma is in a difficult spot ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka on August 2 in Colombo. Since the horrific injury in 2022, Rishabh Pant is back in the ODI set-up for the first time and would be gunning to get into the playing XI. However, KL Rahul was terrific in the ODI World Cup 2023, scoring 452 runs in 11 matches, which was thought to have secured his spot in the long run. However, Rohit kept the door open after Pant’s return, which may cost Rahul his spot.

Labelling both cricketers as ‘match-winners’, the Indian captain stated that it is a difficult choice to pick one but he is happy to have so many options. Rohit is expected to open alongside Shubman Gill with Virat Kohli at number three and Shreyas Iyer to bat at number four. The number five spot is up for grabs as both Rahul and Pant are fighting for it. Shivam Dube is expected to play at number six, while Axar Patel is to play at seven. 

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“It's difficult to choose between KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Both are match-winners in their own way. But it's a happy problem and I want to have that kind of problems,” Rohit said in the pre-match press conference. 

Every new coaching set-up brings on something different: Rohit

Rohit has reunited with former teammate Gautam Gambhir, who has recently joined the national team as its head coach. Under his guidance, the team whitewashed Sri Lanka in the T20I series and will be hoping to repeat the same in ODIs as well. Speaking about Gambhir joining the national team, Rohit said that the former cricketer has a lot of experience and will bring something different to the table.

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“Gautam Gambhir has played a lot of cricket. He worked for franchises before coming to the Indian team. We played a bit of cricket together. Every new coaching set-up brings on something different,” Rohit said.