According to a latest report, the race for the second wicketkeeper’s spot in the Indian ODI team has picked up once again.
Dainik Jagran has reported that the Indian team management is considering all its options for upcoming matches and tournaments. Currently, KL Rahul is India’s first choice wicketkeeper in ODIs, with Rishabh Pant currently second in charge.
Rishabh Pant to lose place in Indian ODI team to Sanju Samson
If the reports are to be believed, Sanju Samson has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Pant in the second wicketkeeper’s spot. Pant’s poor form in IPL 2026 is said to be one of the reasons the Indian team is looking to move on from the Delhi southpaw.
वनडे टीम से पंत का पत्ता कट सकता है। संजू सैमसन की एंट्री संभव। टीम प्रबंधन संजू को वनडे में भी मौका देने को लेकर गंभीरता से विचार कर रहा है।#cricket pic.twitter.com/tyYcXbE8GJ
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) April 30, 2026
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Even though Pant has been around the team and the squad as the backup wicketkeeper, he has not played an ODI since August 2024. Samson too, hasn’t played the 50-over format for the country since December 2023.
Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson’s ODI career
Pant has already lost his place to Samson in the Indian team for the T20 format. Both players were part of India’s T20 World Cup winning team in 2024, but soon after the tournament Pant was dropped from the team.
With Rishabh Pant asked to prioritise Test cricket, it opened up the wicketkeeper’s spot in the T20I team and Sanju Samson grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Jitesh Sharma was originally appointed Samson’s deputy but, Ishan Kishan’s recent comeback to the T20I setup means that there is no space for a backup keeper either.
Pant made his ODI debut in 2018, but has only managed to play 31 ODIs in total. He was originally appointed MS Dhoni’s successor to the side, but a near-fatal car crash in December 2022 left the keeper’s spot in the team open. KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan competed for the opportunity and the former won.
In his 31 ODIs, Pant has made 871 runs at an average of 33.50 and strike rate of 106.21. He also has five fifties and a solitary century in the format. He made his highest score of 125* against England in 2022.
Sanju Samson though, has played just 16 ODIs since debuting in the format in 2021. So far, the Keralite has 510 runs at an average of 56.67 and strike rate of 99.60. He also has one century and 3 fifties in the format with a high score of 108 against South Africa in 2023.
Pant and Samson’s IPL 2026 form
The form of both these players in IPL 2026 appears to be the deciding factor that Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Chief Selector Ajit Agrakar have taken into consideration.
In the ongoing tournament, Sanju Samson has 304 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of 169. Averaging 50.77, he has also made 2 centuries in the tournament.
Rishabh Pant on the other hand has struggled just like his team. While Samson has been only opening for Chennai Super Kings, Pant has been chopping and changing his batting position.
In 8 matches, Pant has made just 189 runs at astrike rate of 127 with just one half century. He is also the captain of Lucknow Super Giants who are currently in the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table and are in the middle of a five-match losing streak.
Indian Cricket Team next match
India’s very next ODI assignment consists of hosting Afghanistan for three matches at home in June. It is very much possible that certain senior players will be rested, as the series is very close to the end of IPL 2026.
If seniors are rested, Sanju Samson could return to play his first ODI in almost two-and-a-half years.
