Rishabh Pant’s possible return to India’s ODI setup is among the key talking points as the national selection committee meets to finalise India’s squads for the upcoming home series against the West Indies. The selectors are expected to assess Pant’s white-ball prospects along with several other important selection and fitness issues.
India are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies. The ODI series begins on September 27 in Thiruvananthapuram, while the T20I leg starts on October 6. The selection process is complicated by the Asian Games, with several Indian players expected to be involved in the continental event during the ODI series.
Pant has emerged as a major selection discussion because Ishan Kishan is expected to be involved with India’s Asian Games campaign. Pant’s recent white-ball form has been under scrutiny, but his availability could provide the selectors with another wicketkeeping option. KL Rahul is expected to remain the first-choice wicketkeeper, meaning Pant’s potential role could be as the second wicketkeeper in the ODI squad.
Pant’s last ODI appearance came during India’s successful Champions Trophy campaign in 2025. His place in the white-ball setup subsequently came under pressure, particularly following an indifferent IPL 2026 season. A selection for the West Indies series would therefore give him an opportunity to regain his ODI rhythm and strengthen his case for a longer-term place in India’s plans.
Hardik Pandya’s fitness is another major issue for the selectors. India’s options for seam-bowling all-rounders are limited, with Nitish Kumar Reddy set to be involved in the Asian Games and Suryansh Shedge and Venkatesh Iyer currently dealing with injuries. Pandya’s ability to bowl a full 10-over quota and handle the demands of a 50-over match will be an important consideration.
The middle order is also likely to see changes because Shreyas Iyer is expected to be unavailable due to his Asian Games commitments. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar are among the players being considered for greater responsibility, while Yashasvi Jaiswal could provide additional opening-batting cover.
Ravindra Jadeja could also return to the ODI setup after missing India’s previous ODI series against England. His experience as a left-arm spinner and all-rounder could become particularly valuable with Axar Patel involved in the Asian Games and Harsh Dubey unavailable because of injury.
In the pace department, Mohammed Siraj is expected to come back into consideration after missing the England ODI series, while Jasprit Bumrah is unavailable because of his Asian Games commitments. The selectors will therefore have to balance experience with the demands of managing multiple squads at the same time. ABP Live English
The West Indies series will provide India with an important opportunity to assess several players ahead of the longer-term build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. For Pant in particular, a return to the ODI squad would mark another chance to re-establish himself in India’s 50-over plans.
