Rishabh Pant faces ODI axe as Sanju Samson surges ahead in India's wicketkeeper race

Key facts

• Rishabh Pant has scored 189 runs in eight IPL 2026 matches at an average of 27, with one half-century.
• Pant was purchased for INR 27 Crores in the 2025 mega auction, the highest price in IPL history.
• Sanju Samson has scored 304 runs in eight IPL matches for Chennai Super Kings, including two centuries.
• Samson averages 56.67 in ODIs, with 510 runs in 14 innings, one century and three fifties.
• India's next ODI series is against Afghanistan starting June 14, with 20 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup.
• Pant's place in the Test team remains secure despite his white-ball struggles.

A costly slump

Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history at INR 27 Crores, is on the verge of losing his place in India's ODI setup. The 28-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has managed only 189 runs in eight innings this season for the Lucknow Super Giants, averaging 27 with a solitary half-century and a strike rate of 126. His team languishes at the bottom of the IPL table, and Pant will lead his side against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday night in a match that carries only pride for both franchises. The poor returns have triggered a reassessment of his role in India's limited-overs plans.

Selectors shift focus to Sanju Samson

in Dainik Jagran, Sanju Samson has leapfrogged Pant as the second-choice wicketkeeper-batter behind KL Rahul in India's ODI squad. Samson's stunning form in the recently concluded T20 World Cup and the ongoing IPL has attracted the selectors' interest. In his debut season for Chennai Super Kings, Samson has already smashed two centuries, amassing 304 runs in eight matches. Dhruv Jurel, who replaced Pant midway through India's last ODI series against New Zealand in January due to injury, remains a contender. Pant was the second choice during that series but was sidelined after getting hurt. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have firmly set their sights on the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with 20 ODIs scheduled before that marquee event.

Price tag not the problem, says bowling coach

Lucknow Super Giants bowling coach Bharat Arun has dismissed suggestions that the enormous price tag is weighing on Pant's mind. "I don't think the price tag has anything to do with his form. If you see his batting this season, Pant has won us a game, and I am not really concerned about his form. He is just one innings away from getting back to his best," Arun told the media. Arun also addressed the form of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who has taken seven wickets this season and is aiming for a national recall. "Shami has a very clear mindset. He wants to focus on the controllables and isn't thinking about a return to the national side," Arun said. On young quick Mayank Yadav, he added, "He is fit, bowling quick, and raring to go."

A downturn since moving to Lucknow

Pant spent eight seasons with the Delhi Capitals before moving to Lucknow ahead of the 2025 season, where he was immediately named captain. In his first season with the Super Giants, he scored 269 runs, including a career-best 118 not out against Royal Challengers Bengaluru — his second IPL century. Across 22 games for Lucknow, he has amassed only 458 runs with two fifties and that one hundred. The left-hander's struggles in white-ball cricket have been stark. He is no longer in the reckoning for the T20I team, and his ODI place is now under threat. Only his Test spot remains secure, offering a narrow lifeline for a player who was once seen as India's long-term wicketkeeper across all formats.

What lies ahead for Pant and India

India's next ODI assignment is a series against Afghanistan beginning June 14. With Samson in red-hot form and Jurel waiting in the wings, Pant faces an uphill battle to reclaim his spot. The selectors are building toward the 2027 World Cup, and every ODI from now on will be scrutinised for signs of a settled squad. For Pant, the immediate task is to rediscover his touch in the remaining IPL games. A strong finish to the season could yet force the selectors' hand. But with each low score, the window narrows. The Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, will want to end a disappointing campaign on a high — a win over Mumbai might be the spark Pant needs.

The bottom line

• Rishabh Pant has scored just 189 runs in eight IPL 2026 innings, averaging 27, and is set to be dropped from India's ODI team.
• Sanju Samson has leapfrogged Pant as India's second-choice ODI wicketkeeper, with 304 runs and two centuries in eight IPL matches.
• Pant remains the costliest IPL player at INR 27 Crores, but his bowling coach insists the price tag is not affecting his form.
• India will play 20 ODIs before the 2027 World Cup, and selectors are prioritising form and consistency.
• Pant's Test place is secure, but his white-ball future is in doubt unless he finds form quickly.