The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be played in Pakistan and Dubai. India will play their matches in Dubai due to security reasons in the neighbouring country. The national selectors haven’t announced the squad due to Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav, who are battling injuries. The Men in Blue have three wicket-keeping options but only one player will get the nod.

Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson and KL Rahul are in contention to travel to Dubai for the global tournament. Samson has been magnificent in the shortest format and has smashed three hundreds in the last seven innings. Rahul has done reasonably well in the past but Pant hasn’t enjoyed outings in ODIs and T20Is.

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali stated that Pant should be the team’s wicketkeeper for the tournament. He kept Samson in the second spot.

However, he mentioned that it would be difficult for KL Rahul to be the first-choice wicket-keeper at the ICC event.

“Rishabh Pant has to be India’s main wicker-keeper. Sanju Samson is my second choice but I think it will be difficult for KL Rahul,” Basit said.

He was also asked about the fittest Indian player and he gave his vote to Virat Kohli, saying his fitness is unmatched.

“Virat Kohli is the fittest Indian player. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are good but they are not top class cricketers. There is no one who can match Virat Kohli’s ground fitness. He is sharp everywhere,” he added.