The Indian team management preferred KL Rahul over Rishabh Pant as the wicketkeeper-batter in the first ODI against England in Nagpur on Thursday (February 6).

However, it may be Axar Patel's performance in the match that could keep Pant out of the playing XI, reckoned former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.

Promoted to bat at No. 5, Axar scored 52 off 47 balls. The spin all-rounder, who claimed one wicket in the England innings, stitched a crucial 108-run partnership with Shubman Gill to put India in a commanding position in the chase of 249.

The three-match ODI series against England is the final dress rehearsal for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Hence, the chances of squads being maintained going into the marquee event is highly likely.

“Before the match started, there was a suggestion from me that maybe Rishabh Pant could be tried only with the Champions Trophy in mind. Plus, India would have a left-hander in the top six or seven. Axar Patel is a great option to have because this is a guy, we have seen him bat in Test matches for India and he has a batter's temperament,” said Manjrekar on ESPNCricinfo.

“Boy, he looked good against spinners (in the first ODI). India have had a problem in the middle overs where they have struggled to find batters who are competent against spin. Because this Champions Trophy is going to be played in our part of the world, there's going to be a lot of spin impact on the games,” he added.

While Pant has established himself as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Tests, he is yet to crack the code in white-ball formats. The southpaw has played 31 ODIs so far, scoring 871 runs at an average of 33.50 with one century and five half-centuries.

India have largely tried to fit Pant into the middle order, and his only ODI century came when he batted at No.4.

"Axar Patel is a terrific option to have in the middle, thereby perhaps delaying Rishabh Pant's chances of coming back in. Now, they have found a left-hander that they can bat in the middle," Manjrekar remarked.

The second ODI between India and England will be played in Cuttack on Sunday (February 9).