Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan in line to replace KL Rahul in ODI team; ex-India star laughs off report

After wrecking records in T20Is for India, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, two of India's T20 World Cup heroes, would now be aiming for a spot in the ODI XI. However, will India consider moving past KL Rahul in the longer format of white-ball cricket? This is the current biggest debate ahead of the 2027 WC.

India's T20 World Cup campaign saw a major change in the topography of Indian cricket. Ishan Kishan, the left-handed batting star for India, was almost a forgotten name until 2026. He was brought back after a milestone season in 2025 and was backed by the coaches and the selectors.

He went on to be a stunning find as he smashed a century going into the World Cup and then smashed 319 runs in the T20 World Cup, finishing as India's second-highest run-getter and overall fourth. At the end of the T20 World Cup, he is ranked no. 2 in the ICC T20I rankings for batters.

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Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are in contention for KL Rahul's spot in the ODI XI

After having led India to the ICC T20 World Cup title, Indian cricket experts feel that Sanju Samson, the player of the series, and Ishan Kishan deserve a chance in the Indian ODI XI. India have been keeping KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the loop for the format.

However, Rishabh Pant has not played a single ODI game since the Sri Lanka series back in 2024, and KL Rahul has been seen as the regular keeper and was seen captaining the Indian side against South Africa, in Captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer's absence.

He has also adapted himself to a role in the lower middle-order and often finishes off games for India. However, Abhishek Tripathi believes that India would now be considering swapping him with the likes of Kishan or Sanju Samson.

However, PTI reporter Kushan Sarkar has opined that though Ishan Kishan has the skillset to perform in ODIs, which he had shown before with a double century against Bangladesh, India would need more of KL Rahul in the team.

Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh laughs off speculations on Rahul's removal

In this entire discussion, former Indian bowler and a former veteran of 100+ First Class games, Dodda Ganesh, has made a controversial post on X, where he laughed at the possibility of a swap.

KL Rahul has been in some touch for India since the 2023 ICC World Cup; however, it cannot be neglected that his role in winning games for India has been limited to bilaterals, as his performances have dipped in major ICC tournaments.

However, as per Ganesh's recent antics, it seems that to him, Rahul is still the fine wicket-keeping option for India in ODIs, and Ishan Kishan might be swapped as a backup but would not make it to the XI as an immediate replacement. However, this further mounts pressure on KL Rahul to perform to retain his spot for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

😂🤣🙏 https://t.co/KuQIUrDkQk

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) March 13, 2026

Will Gautam Gambhir repeat the same mistake?

After the ICC Champions Trophy success, Gautam Gambhir had his first major successful Test series in England, where Shubman Gill remained the major highlight. The Indian captain scored a flurry of runs, which made the Indian management reconsider him for the shortest format of the game.

This did not work out well, as Gill, in 15 outings, failed to score more than 291 runs without a single half-century and averaged awfully low. He was eventually dropped from India's T20I World Cup squad as well. Hence, Gambhir might have learnt his lesson that form in one format cannot be used to give them a chance in the other.

With Ishan Kishan firing it in T20Is, the ODIs will be a different challenge for the batter. Moreover, he would not powerplay or have a top-order spot in the XI, and would have to play varying roles coming lower in the order.

Hence, for entrusting him with such a huge responsibility, it would be correct if Gambhir only tries him as a backup before experimenting with the experienced KL Rahul.

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