After T20I Snub, Shubman Gill’s ODI Spot Under Threat from This Karnataka Batsman

The ongoing cricket season in India has kept the national setup extremely busy and engaged, with the domestic tournaments taking place alongside the international assignments. Team India is set to play a bilateral ODI series against New Zealand in the coming month, and players across the country are using the domestic tournaments to brush up their form and as a platform to push for selection.

At the centre of this phase is the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, which will serve as a major influence on India’s ODI planning for the upcoming assignments.
With the Vijay Hazare Trophy in progress, selectors are closely tracking performances as the ODI calendar approaches. India’s ODI squad for New Zealand is expected to be announced soon, and while most of the spots are pre-decided, some spots remain under discussion, the top order in particular.

One player who has repeatedly entered the discussion is Devdutt Padikkal. Despite delivering consistent performances, Padikkal has continued to miss out on an ODI selection, but with injury concerns and poor form of Shubman Gill, he might make his ODI debut.

Will Devdutt Padikkal Replace Shubman Gill?

With the IND vs NZ ODI Series scheduled to begin in January, timings could go in Devdutt Padikkal’s favor. The squad announcement for the series is expected shortly, and selectors are already keeping an eye on domestic tournaments to recall players with consistent performances.

Given his performance in the domestic and consistency with the ability to handle pressure, the possibility of Devdutt Padikkal ODI debut is now being talked and discussed around. With concerns around players' injuries and poor form, especially Shubman Gill, Padikkal could be seen as a threat to captain Gill's position in the ODIs. Although Gill is expected to be part of the upcoming bilateral tour, and if his form remains the same, Padikkal could be the best person to replace Gill in ODIs.

The selection committee has already dropped Shubman Gill, one of the best batsmen in the world, from the T20I setup due to his poor form, and have recalled Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan after their impressive domestic stints. With an eye on domestic and consistency as priorities, the selectors have shown intent that only performance matters for the squad and not the reputation. So with this approach, Devdutt Padikkal could threaten Shubman Gill’s ODI spot and make his debut.

Devdutt Padikkal’s Domestic form

Devdutt Padikkal’s consistent form in domestic cricket has strengthened his case for the national selection. In the ongoing season, Devdutt Padikkal VHT performances are the most talked about. Playing with Karnataka this season, he has scored three centuries already, with the latest one against Puducherry in Ahmedabad.

The left-handed batter added a 228-run opening stand with skipper Mayank Agarwal. Padikkal's previous tons came against Kerala and Jharkhand. Devdutt Padikkal Vijay Hazare Trophy performance has proven why he is among the best batsmen in India. However, his impact has not been limited to the 50-over format alone.

Earlier this season, Padikkal impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, proving his adaptability in T20 cricket as well. With senior players expected to move on after the 2027 ODI World Cup, selectors are under pressure to groom reliable top-order options early, and this could be Devdutt Padikkal's ODI debut could be the right time.