The senior men’s selection committee is reportedly set to exclude wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson from Team India’s squad for the upcoming white-ball matches. Despite his excellent form in recent months, Samson is unlikely to earn a place in the ODI squad for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan.
The bilateral series between India and Afghanistan will begin shortly after the IPL 2026 final, which is scheduled for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India will host Afghanistan for a one-off Test in Mullanpur from June 6 before playing three ODIs in Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.
Sanju Samson Set to Miss Selection for Afghanistan ODI Series
According to a report in the Times of India on Thursday, KL Rahul will continue as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the ODI format. The selectors are also backing Ishan Kishan for the backup wicketkeeping role, which could bring him back into the ODI setup after more than two years.
Ishan Kishan last played an ODI against Afghanistan in October 2023. Earlier this year, he returned to the T20I team after strong domestic performances after leading Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title. Kishan continued his good form in the T20 World Cup and the ongoing IPL 2026 season.
The selectors reportedly moved away from Rishabh Pant for the backup role because of his disappointing batting form during the current IPL season. The report also stated that Shubman Gill is likely to captain India in the white-ball series, while Jasprit Bumrah is expected to receive rest.
Sanju Samson Currently Playing for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026
Sanju Samson is likely to stay out of the ODI squad despite finishing as India’s highest run-scorer in the recent T20 World Cup. The selection panel reportedly feels Kishan gives flexibility to bat at the top and in the middle order.
Sanju Samson is currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2026. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 450 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 164.23 this season. He scored unbeaten centuries against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.
Sanju Samson also created history for Chennai Super Kings by becoming only the fourth player from the franchise to score multiple centuries in a single IPL season. He further became the first batter to register two century partnerships against Delhi Capitals in the same season.
Selectors to Discuss Ravindra Jadeja’s ODI Future
The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will also discuss the ODI future of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. The selectors had dropped him from the squad for the Australia series last year before recalling him for the home assignments against South Africa in December and New Zealand in January.
However, Jadeja struggled to make a strong impact in those series with both bat and ball. He picked up only one wicket in three matches against South Africa and went wicketless against New Zealand. He also scored just 43 runs across the two series.
The selectors are expected to announce the final squads on May 19. The board has already asked likely players to begin preparations for the one-off Test match. Current selection discussions are focused on building India’s core squads for the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup.
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