Harbhajan Singh snubs Rishabh Pant; names his wicketkeeper batsman for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Harbhajan Singh wants Sanju Samson to be picked in India's squad ahead of Rishabh Pant in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Harbhajan Singh snubs Rishabh Pant; names his wicketkeeper batsman for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Rishabh Pant (Image via BCCI/X)

The ICC Champions Trophy is around the corner, and it will kick off on February 19. The teams have already started announcing their squads for the tournament. However, BCCI are yet to announce Team India’s squad for this mega ICC event. Experts have already started chipping in with their opinions on who deserves a place in the squad.

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has also come up with his opinion regarding India’s squad for CT 2025. ‘Bhajji’ felt that Axar Patel should be picked in the squad ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, he stated that Sanju Samson should be preferred over Rishabh Pant as the primary wicketkeeper in the squad for the mega event.

YouTube video

I have chosen Axar Patel over Ravindra Jadeja. I think Axar is ready to fulfil the role that Jadeja has done for so many years. I think one among Sanju Samson or Rishabh Pant should be picked. I feel Sanju should be preferred because he had played in South Africa. Rishabh played well in Australia, but it was a long tour, so if he is rested, it’s not a big thing.

Harbhajan Singh said via his YouTube channel

Samson has played 16 ODI matches in his career so far and has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.67 with one century. He has also been in fine form in the recent T20I series.

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On the other hand, Pant has played 31 ODI matches so far in his career and has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.5. The southpaw has not been able to showcase the same level of dominance in the white ball format as in Test cricket.

Indian Cricket is currently in the spotlight for their recent string of results

Team India have not played ODI cricket for a long time. They last played an ODI series in Sri Lanka in August 2024 and suffered a 2-0 defeat. Captain Rohit Sharma is under a huge amount of pressure given that his team suffered a 3-0 whitewash at home in the Test series against New Zealand and then lost the BGT by a margin of 3-1.

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Rohit Sharma (Via BCCI/X)

This will also be the first ICC tournament for the new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who has also not experienced good results in Test cricket and ODI cricket in his tenure. India will play a three-match ODI series against England at home before moving to the UAE for the Champions Trophy.

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The tournament will be played in a hybrid model, as India have refused to travel to Pakistan to play in the event. So, India’s matches will be held in Dubai all throughout the tournament.