Sanju Samson is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January 2026 as well as the T20 World Cup 2026, but the 31-year-old cricketer is set to be ignored by the BCCI selectors once again when they announce India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against the Black Caps this week. According to a report in India Today, the senior men’s selection committee will drop Rishabh Pant from the ODI squad for the last home series of the 2025-26 season and, as his replacement, will include Ishan Kishan and not Samson in the squad.
“The selectors have now decided to move on from Pant for the New Zealand series,” sources privy to the development told India Today.
Pant’s former U19 teammate Kishan has
been in red-hot form these days. He finished as the highest run getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and then scored a century in just 33 balls for Jharkhand in their first match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Karnataka in Ahmedabad on January 24.
As per the available information, Ishan is the leading contender to replace Pant in the ODI squad as second-choice wicketkeeper-batter.
Ishan hasn’t played an ODI match for India since October 11, 2023.
The 27-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Patna, who represents Jharkhand in domestic cricket, on December 20, earned a T20I call-up as well for the home series against New Zealand and T20 World Cup 2026.
Iyer to make a comeback?
Shreyas Iyer is vice-captain of India’s ODI team, but he missed the three-match ODI series against South Africa earlier this month due to fitness-related issues. The 31-year-old right-handed batter from Mumbai suffered an injury while playing for India in the third ODI against Australia on October 25 in Sydney, and he has been out of action since then.
Iyer, who finished as the highest run-getter for the Rohit Sharma-led side in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, has resumed training at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, and there is a slight possibility of his inclusion in the ODI squad.
As per the India Today report, “The middle-order batter has resumed training, but his inclusion will depend on final medical clearance, keeping his availability for the upcoming series under assessment.”
