3 Indian batters who could break into the ODI team

India's ODI setup has always demanded batters who can perform consistently across formats and conditions. With several domestic tournaments providing regular opportunities, a number of young batters have put their hands up for selection in recent months. The 2026 season has seen strong performances in the Duleep Trophy, India A assignments and international T20Is, giving selectors plenty to consider ahead of upcoming ODI series.

Here are three Indian batters who could break into the ODI team:

1. Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal is a 26-year-old left-handed top-order batter from Karnataka who is yet to make his ODI debut for India. His Test record, however, has been difficult to ignore. In four Tests, he has scored 418 runs at an average of 69.66, including two centuries and one fifty. In the India vs Sri Lanka Test series in 2026, Padikkal scored 167 in the Galle Test and 117 in the Colombo Test, cementing his place at No. 3 in the Test order. He also scored 131* in an innings at a strike rate above 70, pushing his first-class average above 44 across 57 matches and 4,011 runs with 10 centuries.

His List A numbers are equally impressive. Padikkal has scored 2,796 runs in 42 List A matches at an average of 82.23. He was named captain of India A for the two-Test series against Australia A in Puducherry starting September 22, 2026, and scored a half-century on his captaincy debut despite uneven bounce on the Puducherry pitch. He also contributed a fifty in the Duleep Trophy against East Zone. A batter with these numbers across formats is a strong ODI candidate.