India’s first-choice players will be traveling to Japan for the Asian Games 2026, and there is a possibility of the men’s selection committee recalling Rishabh Pant to the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies, starting September 27. Ishan Kishan’s absence will open the door for Pant, who hasn’t been selected for a long time. The meeting of the Ajit Agarkar-led panel to pick squads for the three ODIs and five T20Is at home could take place on Thursday.

Mohammed Siraj, who didn’t play matches on the UK tour due to workload management, could return. Yashasvi Jaiswal will get another opportunity despite the presence of Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill.

Pant was dropped from the fifty-over format before the three-match series against Afghanistan in June. Before that, he sat on the bench for two years as KL Rahul remained the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter since 2024. Rishabh was then left out without playing a match.

The presence of the right-handed batters in the top order might work in Pant’s favor, but Rahul would be the main keeper.

The Men in Blue will also be without ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Washington Sundar. This will lead to the selection of players who haven’t had regular opportunities. The Indian National Cricket Team’s campaign at the Asia Gams starts on September 28, with the final scheduled on October 3.

Virat Kohli will also return to action against the West Indies. He was last seen in the India jersey in a three-ODI bilateral assignment in England. Although he scored two half-centuries, the visiting team went down by a margin of 1-2.

The right-hander would be keen to be among the run-getters, as only regular contributions could lead to his selection in the India squad for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.