The shocking exclusion of Rishabh Pant from India’s XI during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked rumors of a rift between the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter and head coach Gautam Gambhir. It was reported that Rishabh Pant is not happy with Gambhir and believes there are external factors behind keeping him out of the ODI team.
KL Rahul has been backed as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, and he also delivered strong performances in ODI cricket since the 2023 World Cup. He also played three praiseworthy innings during India’s victorious ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign.
Rishabh Pant benched in ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because of Gautam Gambhir?
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has been overlooked under Gambhir’s tenure in the 50-over format despite making a remarkable comeback from a near-fatal accident. His only ODI appearance since his return came in 2024, leaving fans questioning his role in the team and his equation with Gambhir.
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With Pant excelling in Tests but facing constant snubs in ODIs, the rumors of a rift between Pant and Gambhir have been rife, especially after he didn’t get a single game in the recent ICC Champions Trophy 2025. For all five games, Rahul was preferred over Pant by Gambhir and Rohit Sharma.
Gautam Gambhir to attend Rishabh Pant’s sister Sakshi’s wedding in Mussoorie
Amid the reports of a cold war between Indian wicketkeeper and head coach, a latest report quashes all such rumors. A Jagran News reporter mentioned that there are reports of nothing going well between Pant and Gambhir, but these are just rumors.
He further went on to reveal that Gambhir is all set to attend the wedding of Pant’s sister Sakshi in Mussoorie this week, which means everything is well between them. The journalist made these revelations on his social media handle on Wednesday, March 12.
ऐसा कहा जाता है कि गंभीर और पंत में कुछ है… पंत इसीलिए नहीं खेलते लेकिन सूत्रों से पता चला है कि गंभीर पंत की बहन को शादी शामिल होंगे। यानी रिश्ते ठीक हैं।
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) March 12, 2025
Meanwhile, the wedding festivities of the Indian cricketer’s sister have already begun at the scenic backdrop of ITC Hotel, The Savoy in Mussoorie. Pant wasted no time in heading to Mussoorie from Dubai after India clinched the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, March 9.
MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, and Rishabh Pant set the dance floor on fire at the sangeet ceremony
The wicketkeeper-batter arrived in Mussoorie on Monday (March 10) morning to be part of his sister Sakshi’s wedding celebrations, joining his family for the special occasion, and it has been so far a star-studded event with MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina already gracing their presence.
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Dhoni and Raina are in Mussoorie with their wives to bless the couple, and currently a video is making the rounds on social media, where the former Indian cricketers can be seen breaking the dance floor with Rishabh during the sangeet ceremony.
Rishabh Pant , MS Dhoni & Suresh Raina dancing together 🕺🕺😂😂 pic.twitter.com/b03FSVUvGv
— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) March 11, 2025
Notably, the legendary wicketkeeper-batter attended the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) camp in Chennai before traveling to Mussoorie to attend Sakshi’s wedding. Dhoni will be seen in action when CSK opens their IPL 2025 campaign on March 23 against the Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
On the other hand, Pant will lead Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming IPL 2025, where his team will play their first game against his former team, Delhi Capitals, on March 24 in Vishakhapatnam.
