Wed Feb 19 09:58:24 UTC 2025: ## India Likely to Field KL Rahul Over Rishabh Pant in Champions Trophy Opener Against Bangladesh

**Kolkata, India** – India is set to begin its Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on Thursday, with a strong batting lineup expected. While the top four of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer seem cemented, several key decisions remain regarding the middle order, all-rounders, and bowlers.

A significant point of contention is the wicketkeeper’s spot. Reports suggest KL Rahul is likely to be preferred over Rishabh Pant. The all-rounder slots are expected to be filled by Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel, leaving Washington Sundar out of the playing XI.

A battle for the final spinner’s spot is brewing between Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. While media reports suggest Captain Rohit Sharma favors Kuldeep, head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly prefers Chakravarthy.

Further uncertainty surrounds the pace attack. The team must choose between Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, with Arshdeep Singh almost certain to play. Harshit Rana, recently added to the squad as a Jasprit Bumrah replacement, faces a tough battle for a spot in the starting eleven.

Based on current predictions, India’s likely playing XI is: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh. However, the final lineup could still change before the match. The selection choices will be closely watched, especially given the contrasting preferences of the captain and coach regarding the spinner and pacer choices.

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