Champions Trophy: KL Rahul Calms Rohit, Shami Fitness Fears Before NZ Match

Synopsis

Dubai, Feb 28 (NationPress) KL Rahul reassures that Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami face no fitness issues before the important clash against New Zealand. Both teams have progressed to the semifinals from Group A, with Pakistan and Bangladesh eliminated after consecutive losses in the tournament.

Key Takeaways

KL Rahul assures fitness is not an issue for Rohit and Shami.
India and New Zealand have both advanced to the semifinals.
Pakistan and Bangladesh are set to exit early from the tournament.
The last clash saw India defeat New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semifinal.
Rahul emphasizes the importance of not resting players before the knockout stages.

Dubai, Feb 28 (NationPress) Following the exit of Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami from the field due to fitness issues during their victory against Pakistan, wicket-keeper batter K.L. Rahul has assured that there are no fitness worries as they prepare for the final group encounter against New Zealand on Sunday. Both India and New Zealand have secured their places in the semifinals from Group A, while the hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh are poised for early departures after suffering consecutive defeats in the tournament.

The last time these two teams competed was during the 2023 World Cup semifinal, where the Men in Blue triumphed by 70 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to secure a spot in the final match. 'From a fitness standpoint, everything appears to be fine. To my knowledge, there are no significant concerns regarding anyone missing out. Everyone has been training diligently at the gym,' stated K.L. Rahul.

With merely one rest day between India's Group A showdown against New Zealand and their semifinal, it wouldn't have been unusual for some senior players to take a breather ahead of the knockout phase. However, Rahul does not anticipate this occurring.

'Fortunately, I am not part of the leadership group. I am not responsible for making that choice. There might be some temptation to experiment with players who haven't had a chance to play. However, I don't believe that will occur in the Champions Trophy since there is only one day's break between the final group-stage match and the semifinal,' he added.

Rahul also discussed his selection over Rishabh Pant in the ODI framework, admitting that with strong backups available, there is always pressure to modify the lineup.

With Pant recovering from a life-threatening car accident, Rahul has stepped in as India's primary keeper-batter in ODIs since August 2023, showcasing his skills as a middle-order batsman and dependable keeper in the 50-over World Cup, accumulating 452 runs and making 17 dismissals. 'There is competition with Pant; I won't deny it. He is an exceptionally talented player who has demonstrated his capabilities, how aggressively he can perform, and how quickly he can alter the game's course. Hence, there is a constant consideration within the team, especially with the captain and coach, regarding whether to field him or me,' Rahul remarked.