Despite choosing Rishabh Pant as the first choice keeper during team selection, the team chose to move on with KL Rahul. There have been a lot of clashes and questions regarding benching Rishabh throughout, and now KL Rahul said that there is competition between the two, even if they don't copy each other. India will be playing their final group stage match in the 2025 Champions Trophy against New Zealand at Dubai on March 2. Speaking in the press conference before the match, Rahul shared light on his dynamics with Rishabh Pant. He said, "There is (competition with Pant), I won't lie. He is a very talented player and has shown all of us what he can do and how aggressively he can play and how quickly he can change the game. So there is always a temptation in the team with the captain and the coach to think if they should play him or play me. For me, whenever I get the opportunity, I try and see what I can do best. I am not trying to compete with Rishabh. I am not trying to play like him, or I am sure when he gets a chance, he is not trying to play like anybody else. He is picked on the basis of how he can play, and the same applies to me. "Luckily I am not part of the leadership group. I don't have to make that decision. There will be some temptation to try out players who have not gotten a game. But I don't think that will happen in the Champions Trophy, because there is just one day's break between the final group-stage game and the semi-final. That is my version." Moreover, Rahul confirmed that everyone in the team is likely to be fit, as all had been hitting gyms regularly. Read also: Harsh Dubey Scripts History, Becomes Highest Wicket-taker in a Ranji Season Does Rishabh have a chance against New Zealand? Asst. Coach clears dilemma Rishabh Pant has been sidelined from the playing XI since the three-match ODI home series against England. Even Rishabh reportedly expressed frustration to his close ones for not giving a chance. Speaking to the press, India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said that the nature of the sport has made the team take such calls. He even stated on KL's present condition in the team. He said, "It's been very hard on Rishabh not playing. But that's the nature of sport at this level. KL has been good. He didn't get many chances... we've got to keep Rishabh up and running. We never know when we're going to need him. But certainly to have two wicketkeepers of that calibre is a nice thing to have." In India's two matches so far, KL Rahul has had only one opportunity to bat, where he contributed 41 runs against Bangladesh. Prior to the Champions Trophy, his performance in the ODI series against England was moderate, scoring just 52 runs in three innings.Notably, both India and New Zealand have qualified for the semis, and its time to fight for the top spot in the group stage.