As Team India gets ready for the Champions Trophy 2025, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant are expected to contend for the starting wicket-keeping spot.

KL Rahul, who played all the five Test matches against the Aussies, has requested for a break and will skip the Hazare knockouts

After an arduous series, Rahul was supposed to join the Karnataka team for the remaining rounds of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, as the team has reached the knockouts of the 50-over domestic tournament. But the wicketkeeper-batter has opted out of the tournament, requesting a break from the intense cricketing schedule and to reduce the workload.

KL Rahul will be unavailable for Karnataka for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, following the five-Test series against Australia.

With the England series starting on January 22, KL Rahul can make his return with the white-ball series against Three-Lions.