According to a latest report, the race for the second wicketkeeper spot in the Indian ODI team has picked up once again.

Dainik Jagran informed that the Indian team management is considering all options for the upcoming matches and tournaments. Currently, KL Rahul is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs, and Rishabh Pant is currently the second-in-charge.

Rishabh Pant to lose place in Indian ODI team to Sanju Samson

If reports are to be believed, Sanju Samson has emerged as the favorite to replace Pant in the No. 2 wicketkeeper’s role. Pant’s poor form in IPL 2026 is said to be one of the reasons why the Indian team is looking to drop the Delhi left-hander.

The ODI team can retire the pants. Possible entry of Sanju Samson. The team management is seriously considering giving Sanju a chance in ODIs as well. #cricket pic.twitter.com/tyYcXbE8GJ

– Abhishek Tripathi / Abhishek Tripathi (@abhishereporter) April 30,

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Although Pant has been in the team and the team as a reserve goalkeeper, he has not played an ODI since August 2024. Samson has also not played the 50-over format for the country since December 2023.

The ODI careers of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson

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.

When Rishabh Pant was asked to prioritize Test cricket, the wicketkeeper’s spot in the T20I team opened up and Sanju Samson grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Jitesh Sharma was originally appointed as Samson’s deputy. Ishan Kishan’s recent return to the T20I set-up means there is no room for a backup keeper either.

Pant made his ODI debut in 2018 but only managed to play 31 ODIs in total. He was originally named MS Dhoni’s successor in the team, but a near-fatal car accident in December 2022 left the goalkeeper’s place 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 a strike rate of 106.21. It also has five fifties and a solitary century in the format. He achieved his highest score of 125* against England in 2022.

Sanju Samson, however, has played just 16 ODIs since he debuted in the format in 2021. So far, Keralite has 510 runs at an average of 56.67 and a strike rate of 99.60. He also has a 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 players in IPL 2026 seems to be the deciding factor that head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agrakar have taken into account.

In the ongoing tournament, Sanju Samson has 304 runs in 8 matches with a strike rate of 169. At an average of 50.77, he has also made 2 centuries in the tournament.

Rishabh Pant, on the other hand, has struggled and so has his team. While Samson has been opening only for the Chennai Super Kings, Pant has been cutting and changing his batting position.

In 8 matches, Pant has made just 189 runs at a strike rate of 127 in just a half-century. He is also the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, who are currently at the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table and are in the midst of a five-match losing streak.

Indian cricket team’s next match

India’s next task in ODIs is to host Afghanistan for three home matches in June. It is quite possible that some senior players will be rested as the series is very close to the end of IPL 2026.

If the seniors are rested, Sanju Samson could return to play his first ODI in almost two and a half years.