Rishabh Pant Faces Stiff Competition In India's 2027 WC Squad, No Krunal Pandya Yet

Rishabh Pant and Krunal Pandya. [Source - AFP]Rishabh Pant could be handed a route back into India’s ODI setup when they face the West Indies. The wicketkeeper-batter is likely to get an opportunity to stake his claim as preparations for the 2027 World Cup gather pace.Krunal Pandya, meanwhile, has yet to find a place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with no signs of a recall to the 50-over setup. Despite his recent performances in white-ball cricket, the all-rounder remains outside the current scheme of things.Ishan Kishan’s Asian Games Call-Up Could Open the Door for Rishabh PantIndia are sending their T20I squad to the 2026 Asian Games, which is scheduled to clash with the West Indies ODI series. Several players from the ODI setup are expected to travel, including Ishan Kishan, creating a potential opening for Rishabh Pant.Pant has not played an ODI since August 2024 and was not part of India’s ODI plans until his latest call-up for the New Zealand series earlier in 2026. He has slipped behind Kishan in India's 2027 World Cup plans following the latter’s remarkable rise over the past 12 months.However, Kishan’s Asian Games assignment could give Pant a glimmer of hope, with the wicketkeeper-batter emerging as a potential replacement for the left-hander. It could offer Pant another opportunity to push his case for the 2027 World Cup squad.Dhruv Jurel Could Be Major Competition for Rishabh Pant’s ODI ReturnRishabh Pant’s ODI return and a chance to push his case for 2027 World Cup squad is a real possibility with Ishan Kishan flying to Japan for the Asian Games. Indian selectors will soon select the ODI squad for the West Indies series but Pant faces stiff competition.Even though Pant offers the ideal left-handed wicketkeeper-batter option like Kishan, there is Dhruv Jurel, who is yet to make his ODI debut but has emerged as a strong contender to replace Ishan Kishan in the West Indies ODIs.Jurel has a fantastic List A record, averaging 74.70 with two centuries and six fifties in 14 innings. He also replaced Pant in India’s ODI squad against New Zealand earlier in January, highlighting his place in Gautam Gambhir’s plans.Also Read: India's Asian Games Schedule Suddenly ChangedAxar Patel Absent, But Krunal Pandya Still Ignored Axar Patel is another crucial name from India’s ODI setup heading to the Asian Games, opening up a spot for a left-arm spin all-rounder in the squad for the West Indies series. Ravindra Jadeja is therefore likely to fill that vacancy.That, however, leaves Krunal Pandya facing another setback. His IPL performances have certainly been hard to overlook, but his 50-over form has been equally impressive. Krunal scored 321 runs for Baroda in Vijay Hazare Trophy last season at an average of 53.50, including a century and two fifties.He also chipped in with six wickets while maintaining an excellent economy rate of 5.38, underlining that his all-round numbers in the 50-over format have remained right up there. Yet, despite that form, Krunal continues to be overlooked for a Team India comeback. Also Read: PSL Team Owner Books Saim Ayub’s Departure Flight In The Middle Of Test Match, Teammate Dents