By the end of 2022, Rishabh Pant had firmly established himself in India’s ODI squad. That year, he delivered two exceptional knocks in challenging conditions against top-quality opposition—an 85 against South Africa in Paarl and an unbeaten 125 against England in Manchester.
The latter was Pant’s maiden ODI century, and its significance was amplified as it came in a series-deciding match, making it even more special.
However, in December 2022, Pant was involved in a horrific car accident, which sidelined him from international cricket for nearly a year and a half.
KL Rahul vs Rishabh Pant: Who Will Secure India’s No. 5 Spot in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
During that period, India turned to KL Rahul to take on the dual role of wicket-keeper and No. 5 batsman. Rahul seized the opportunity with impressive performances in the Asia Cup 2023 and the World Cup 2023.
However, last year, during the ODIs in Sri Lanka, Rishabh Pant made his return to the ODI squad, creating a sense of uncertainty about India’s wicket-keeper and No. 5 batsman under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. Rahul was dropped after two failures, and Pant was given the chance to make his ODI comeback. Both players struggled to put up significant scores in that series, although the spin-friendly Colombo surface caused issues for most Indian batsmen, with the exception of Rohit Sharma.
As India prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the team must settle this position. They will have three ODIs against England to make their decision.
Let us see the stats of both Rahul and Pant at No. 5 in ODI cricket:
KL Rahul:
In 30 ODI innings at the No. 5 position, KL Rahul has accumulated 1259 runs, boasting an impressive average of 57 and a strike rate of 95, including two centuries and nine fifties.
Rahul had an exceptional 2023 in the middle-order, finishing the year with an average of 66. He scored two centuries and seven fifties, showcasing his consistency and adaptability.
Rishabh Pant:
Rishabh Pant has batted in only seven innings at No. 5 in ODIs, but in these opportunities, he has scored 310 runs at an average of 44 and an explosive strike rate of 136, with three fifties. Notably, his 77-run knock against England in Pune was a highlight of his middle-order performances.
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 30 | 1259 | 57.00 | 95.00 | 2 | 9 | – |
| Rishabh Pant | 7 | 310 | 44.00 | 136.00 | 0 | 3 | 77 vs ENG |