New Delhi: With two spearheads, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have proven their worth for the next ICC ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa and Namibia. As a result, India are set to reshuffle some players in the ODI setup for the global event.

According to the India Today report, Rishabh Pant is likely to be dropped from the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand. With Pant’s absence, the doors will be open for another left-handed batter, who is enjoying his purple patch right now, Ishan Kishan, as his prolific domestic record in recent times firmly puts him back in contention.

In the last ODI series against South Africa, Rishabh Pant didn’t get a chance to feature in any game, but he was considered as a backup wicket-keeper in ODIs for India after KL Rahul.

Pant played the last ODI game on August 7, 2024, against Sri Lanka in Colombo, but now, according to the reports, selectors are moving on from him for the next series.

Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to replace Pant in the ODI squad. The Jharkhand batter played the last ODI on October 11, 2023, against Australia.

He is the highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 and helped Jharkhand to win its maiden title, resulting in selection in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Kishan shifted his fantastic form into the Vijay Hazare Trophy and scored a 33-ball century against Karnataka on December 24, the second-fastest List A century by an Indian batter.

Pant is leading Delhi in the Vijay Hazare trophy, and his inconsistent run in the domestic circuit would be the reason, as he scored 5 and 70 in the first two outings of the tournament.

With Shubhman Gill recovering from a neck injury, he was unavailable for the South Africa series, but now he is fit and set to lead the side against New Zealand. Rahul led the Indian side 2-1 against South