Gautam Gambhir Ajit Agarkar Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma for India. Image Credits: AFP
With the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) underway, the Indian team management, led by Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, is working hard in the background. The head coach-chief selector duo is rigorously preparing the blueprint for the 2027 World Cup.
The Men in Blue have had a constant core of players for quite some time now, which has enabled them to reach the final of the ODI World Cup 2023 and eventually win the Champions Trophy 2025.
Earlier, it was reported that the BCCI is adamant about not rejigging much, but will preserve some players even in the ODI format. Gambhir and Agarkar might experiment with their wicketkeeping options.
End of Rishabh Pant's ODI career?
As reported by Dainik Jagran, the Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar-led management are not at all pleased with Rishabh Pant's performances in the ongoing IPL 2026.
Reportedly, the team management has moved on from Pant's ODI for the upcoming ODI World Cup and is now looking at Sanju Samson as the back-up keeper after KL Rahul.
Also Read: Stephen Fleming-CSK To Part Ways? IPL 2026 Set To Draw The Line On MS Dhoni’s Unhappiness
Pant, a match-winner in Tests, has not been particularly poor in the white-ball formats. However, he was a part of the Indian squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. As India won the tournament without breaking a sweat, the southpaw didn’t get a chance in the ICC event.
Moreover, Sanju Samson, who played over Pant in the T20 World Cup 2026, emerged as the hero of the tournament, winning three back-to-back games for India as they defended their title at home. As a result, the 31-year-old was named the Player of the Tournament for his 321 runs in just five outings.
Rishabh Pant vs Sanju Samson in numbers
There is little to choose between Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson in ODIs, as the two haven’t had enough due in the format. However, the 28-year-old keeper, once called a prodigy, has played 32 ODIs, scoring 871 runs at an average of 33.50 and a strike rate of 106.21.
Samson, on the other hand, has played just 16 ODIs, despite being on the scene since 2015. In his brief ODI career, he has hit 510 runs at 56.66 at a strike rate of 99.60. Moreover, Samson has amassed a century and three half-centuries. Whereas Pant has scored the same number of centuries as Samson, but his count in the fifties is two more than the senior pro.
Having said that, the LSG captain is having a poor time with the bat in the IPL 2026, scoring 189 runs in eight innings at a substandard strike rate of 128.85. On the contrary, the CSK wicketkeeper has slammed 304 runs in as many innings, with a strike rate close to 170, including two centuries.
What does India need in ODIs?
As reported earlier, BCCI wants to go with experienced players for the 2027 World Cup, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah being the flagbearers for the Shubman Gill-led Indian side. This means the gung-ho youngsters like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh might get fast-tracked, but in T20Is.
Having said that, the Indian management might preserve Bumrah until the marquee event, and young fast bowlers might get their due in ODIs on the back of their performance in the IPL 2026.
Team India is still in need of a number six or seven batter, who can finish off the innings down but calculatively. Both Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson can perform the act if groomed properly.
Also Read: Faf du Plessis Becomes Franchise Team Owner With Ex-Teammate
