Rishabh Pant is likely to return to India’s ODI setup for the three-match home series against the West Indies, with the national selection committee set to finalise the squad on Thursday. Pant could return to the ODI picture in the absence of Ishan Kishan, who is part of India’s squad for the 2026 Asian Games.
The West Indies series clashes with the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, forcing the selectors to pick two squads. With several regular players expected to be unavailable for one of the teams, the situation could create opportunities for players competing for places in the national team ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Rishabh Pant Eyes ODI Comeback Amid Dual-Squad Dilemma
According to RevSportz, Rishabh Pant is likely to return to India’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies. The wicketkeeper-batter has not played an ODI since August 2024 and was left out of the squad for the home series against Afghanistan in June.
Ishan Kishan’s selection for the 2026 Asian Games could open the door for Rishabh Pant to return to the 50-over setup. KL Rahul remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper, while Dhruv Jurel is also in contention for the backup role. Pant could bring more variety to a right-handed top order.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal in ODI Selection Race
The absence of several regulars could also give Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal an opportunity to strengthen their claims. Gaikwad scored a century in his last ODI appearance against South Africa in December 2025, while Jaiswal has hit two centuries in his last three ODI innings.
The West Indies series is expected to feature plenty of experience, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill all available. The bowling attack could see several changes as well.
Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are part of the Asian Games squad and could miss the West Indies ODIs. Shivam Dube is also expected to be unavailable. Ravindra Jadeja could replace Axar, while Mohammed Siraj could return after missing the UK tour.
The selectors are also considering younger fast bowlers such as Mayank Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar. Hardik Pandya is unlikely to feature in the West Indies series, as he has been picked for the India A series against Australia, which begins on October 6.
West Indies ODIs Clash With Asian Games Schedule
Two Indian cricket teams could play in different countries at almost the same time. The West Indies ODI series begins in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, while India’s men’s campaign at the Asian Games starts with a quarter-final in Aichi-Nagoya on September 28.
The second ODI will be played in Guwahati on September 30, just one day before the Asian Games semi-finals on October 1. The third ODI in New Chandigarh will take place on October 3, the same day as the Asian Games gold and bronze medal matches.
India have direct entry into the Asian Games quarter-finals and are among the favourites to win a medal. A similar situation occurred at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, when Ruturaj Gaikwad led India’s T20I side while Rohit Sharma’s team stayed in India to prepare for the 2023 ODI World Cup.
The West Indies series could therefore become an important opportunity for players such as Rishabh Pant, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal and other fringe candidates to strengthen their claims ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
