‘Reached Same Level as MS Dhoni, But..’ – Kaif on Why Rishabh Pant May Not be in India Champions Trophy Squad

Team India will finally announce their 15-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 on Saturday (January 18) with captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar slated to address the media.

While question marks remain on ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah's availability, the main focus will be on who will be the wicketkeeping options with Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson fighting for potentially two spots in the squad.

Rahul, who donned the gloves in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Pant's absence, is expected to be the first-choice again, but the back-up spot will be the one to watch as the latter took the role in last year's T20 World Cup.

Samson and Jurel have been picked for the T20Is against England. And one of the two may find a sport according to former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who weighed in on the matter and made his choice when picking his India Champions Trophy squad.

Kaif believes Samson should be picked ahead of Pant as the second wicketkeeper as the right-handed batter has raced ahead of southpaw in limited overs format, and his good form should be considered by the selectors.

The former cricketer acknowledges Pant has reached the same level as Mahendra Singh Dhoni in terms of keeping, but Samson edges the Delhi star with regards to batting especially with his current form in white ball formats.

"Sanju Samson has gone ahead. You have to understand this. With Rishabh Pant, people have their emotions attached. He is a big match-winner in Tests. Who can forget his knock at the Gabba and the hundred in South Africa? He performs well in overseas conditions.

"He is a good wicketkeeper. Rishabh Pant is a better wicketkeeper than Sanju Samson; he has almost reached the same level as MS Dhoni," Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube channel.

"However, when batting is concerned, I think Sanju Samson has gone ahead of Rishabh Pant. He has been batting incredibly well. He smashed centuries for fun in South Africa, hitting more sixes than fours. He has the ability to hit sixes. He has become consistent."

Samson has scored 510 runs at an average of 56.66 in 16 ODIs so far, while Pant has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.50 in the 31 ODIs he has played so far in his career. Plus, Samson has scored three centuries in his most recent T20I outings.

With Bumrah's injury in mind, Kaif picked his playing 11 and the 15-member squad with Nitish Kumar Reddy finding a place in the XI, while Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Samson found spots on the bench. Here is a look at Kaif's choice: