Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took a hit to his left knee while practicing at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Sunday. As reported by The Times of India, he was standing close to the net where Hardik Pandya was batting, and a swing from Hardik accidentally caught him right on the knee.

Pant went down instantly, clearly in pain, and the physio rushed over with an ice pack. For those who might not know, Pant had already suffered serious injuries to that same knee in a terrible car accident back in December 2022.

After a little while, he managed to get back up, though he was limping. The Times of India noted that Hardik quickly checked on him to make sure he was okay.

The two shared a hug before Pant had his knee heavily bandaged, and then he headed to the changing room.

Rishabh Pant stepped up to bat after a short wait, but he seemed a bit uneasy making his way from the changing room to the pitch.

India kicked off their first training session on Sunday in preparation for the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. Rohit Sharma and the team are set to start their journey against Bangladesh on February 20 at the Dubai International Stadium.

KL Rahul is the top pick for wicketkeeper

Rishabh Pant didn't get to play any ODIs against England during the three-match series. After the final game, head coach Gautam Gambhir announced that KL Rahul is the top choice for wicketkeeper.

"KL is our number one wicketkeeper, and that's all I can say for now. Rishabh will have his opportunity, but right now, KL has performed well, and we can't have two wicketkeeper-batters in the lineup," Gambhir shared with the media at the press conference wrapping up the series.

In the first two ODIs, KL Rahul batted at No. 6, and many former players suggested that Pant would be a better fit for that position since he can hit big right away.

Gambhir also mentioned that the team plans to keep the batting order flexible and didn't lock in a specific spot for KL Rahul.

"We don’t focus on averages and stats. We prioritize who can perform when it matters," Gambhir added.

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