3 reasons why KL Rahul was selected ahead of Rishabh Pant in 1st ODI against Sri Lanka

The ODI series between Sri Lanka and India started on an exciting note as wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul was chosen ahead of Rishabh Pant in the 1st ODI match. While skipper Rohit Sharma didn’t specify any reasons, Rahul’s return is indeed enjoyed by a lot of fans. 

He is a great batter and an excellent keeper who is entirely attentive during the game. He takes accurate DRS calls, and hence, he’s an asset to the Indian team. India will play three ODI matches against Sri Lanka and have a chance to clean-sweep them. 

Let’s discuss the three reasons why KL Rahul was selected ahead of Rishabh Pant in 1st ODI game:

1. Rahul is a regular choice

KL Rahul has captained India in the ODI series against Australia before the ODI World Cup 2023. Apart from this, he’s a regular choice wicketkeeper for India. His performance in the World Cup 2023 was also outstanding. This is one of the most important reasons he was selected ahead of Pant.

2. Better batting record

Rahul is a classical batter in ODI cricket and has a better batting record than Pant. Also, Rahul is way more reliable when it comes to tough situations. He has the ability to stick around and play sensibly in times of crisis. He has shown his worth in the past, so his selection ahead of Pant was given. 

3. Rahul is more experienced than Pant

Pant is new to Team India where, as Rahul has played more matches than him. With experience comes knowledge about how to face certain players in the game. Even though Sri Lankan bowlers aren’t a threat to India, keeping the best players is what India’s team aimed at.