Team India suffered a mighty scare as Rishabh Pant was hit on the knee during the practice session ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Indian team reached Dubai for the showpiece event and held their first training session on Sunday. During the session, Pant was standing next to Hardik Pandya who slashed a shot straight to the wicketkeeper's knee, according to a report in Times of India. Pant immediately went down and looked in some pain before being attended by the physios. Pant severely damaged the same knee during the horrific car crash in 2022.

Meanwhile, Hardik went straight to Rishabh Pant and the players hugged it out. Pant's knee was heavily strapped as he came out to bat, however, he didn't look comfortable while walking from the changing room to the middle.

It will be a toss up between Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul for the wicketkeeper role, but Rahul, having played all three ODIs against England should be the first-choice keeper. Pant, on the other hand, did not get a game against England which was a big enough indication that he won't be slotted into the playing XI, at least for the initial matches.

India coach Gautam Gambhir also confirmed that KL Rahul would be the primary wicketkeeper for the Champions Trophy.

"KL is our No 1 wicketkeeper, and this is what I can say at the moment. Rishabh Pant will get his chance, but at the moment, it is KL who has done well, and we cannot play two wicketkeeper-batters," Gambhir told media at the series-ending press conference.

Pant could have played at No.4 as well but Shreyas Iyer had a great run against England and locked the slot for himself. India will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Stadium.

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