3 Indian Batters Who Could Force Their Way Into India’s ODI XI

India’s ODI picture is starting to take shape, and three young batters are making it increasingly difficult for selectors to look away. With consistent runs in domestic cricket, India A matches and even international T20Is, Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma and Sai Sudharsan have all strengthened their cases for a place in the 50-over setup.

The bigger question now is not whether these players have talent. It is whether their current form, temperament and numbers across formats are strong enough to turn opportunity into selection.

Devdutt Padikkal’s all-format rise is hard to ignore

Devdutt Padikkal has quietly built one of the most compelling resumes among India’s next wave of top-order batters. The left-hander is yet to make his ODI debut, but his returns in red-ball and List A cricket suggest he is ready for the next step.

In four Tests, Padikkal has scored 418 runs at an average of 69.66, including two centuries and one fifty. His performances in the 2026 Test series against Sri Lanka stood out, with a brilliant 167 in Galle followed by 117 in Colombo. Those innings helped cement his place at No. 3 in the Test order.

His List A record strengthens the case

Padikkal’s white-ball numbers are even more striking. In List A cricket, he has scored 2,796 runs in 42 matches at an average of 82.23. That kind of consistency is rare, especially for a batter still waiting for his ODI breakthrough.

He was also appointed captain of India A for the two-Test series against Australia A in Puducherry, beginning September 22, 2026, and responded with a half-century on captaincy debut despite difficult bounce on the surface. Add in a fifty in the Duleep Trophy against East Zone, and the trend is clear: Padikkal keeps delivering when given responsibility.

One selector-friendly metric stands out. Across 57 first-class matches, he has scored 4,011 runs with 10 centuries and an average above 44. As one domestic coach noted, When a batter keeps producing in different conditions, selection becomes less about promise and more about timing.

Tilak Varma brings modern white-ball value

If Padikkal’s case is built on consistency, Tilak Varma’s is built on adaptability. The 23-year-old left-handed batter has already become a regular in India’s T20I plans, and his overall profile suggests he can make a bigger impact in ODIs as well.

Tilak made his T20I debut against the West Indies on August 3, 2023, and has since played 49 T20Is, scoring 1,390 runs at an average of 44.83. He has also produced two centuries and six fifties, numbers that point to both scoring power and the ability to bat deep under pressure.

Runs in multiple formats keep his stock high

His recent red-ball output has also helped. In the Duleep Trophy, Tilak led South Zone and scored two centuries and one fifty, showing that his appetite for long innings is not limited to one format. That blend of control and intent is exactly what ODI teams value in the middle order.

Tilak’s List A record is equally impressive: 1,867 runs in 47 matches at an average of 46.67, with six centuries and ten fifties. He has already played five ODIs for India and scored one fifty, but the next step is to secure a regular role rather than a sporadic call-up.

His recent medal-winning contribution at the Asian Games also adds to his reputation as a big-moment player. He made an unbeaten fifty against Pakistan to help India retain gold, reinforcing the sense that he enjoys pressure situations.

Sai Sudharsan’s consistency makes him impossible to ignore

Sai Sudharsan may not always generate the loudest headlines, but his numbers tell a persuasive story. The left-hander has been in impressive form for India A and in domestic cricket, and his recent red-ball returns have only boosted his credentials.

He scored a half-century against Australia A and then followed it up with two centuries against Sri Lanka A, a sequence that underlines both patience and conversion ability. For a batter trying to break into a settled ODI side, that kind of run matters.

Strong List A numbers back the form

Sudharsan’s List A record is particularly eye-catching. In 30 matches, he has scored 1,495 runs at an excellent average of 59.80. That combination of strike rotation, stability and conversion makes him a natural fit for 50-over cricket.

He has already represented India in three ODIs and scored two half-centuries, which means the platform is there. What he needs now is a longer run and the kind of trust that allows him to settle into a defined role.

Another batting analyst put it simply: Selectors often want the player who gives them the fewest doubts. Sudharsan’s record keeps shrinking the list of reasons to overlook him.

Why these three are ahead in the ODI conversation

India’s ODI team has always balanced experience with fresh energy, and these three batters fit that model well. Padikkal offers elite consistency at the top, Tilak brings flexible batting and big-match temperament, while Sudharsan provides reliability and a strong average in 50-over cricket.

All three have produced across formats, not just in one-off bursts. That matters because ODI selection increasingly rewards batters who can handle different roles, different surfaces and shifting match situations.

With ODI series ahead and selection pressure rising, the door is clearly open. The challenge for India’s selectors is less about finding talent and more about deciding who gets the next sustained run.

If recent form is any guide, Padikkal, Tilak and Sudharsan are not just in the conversation. They are right at the centre of it.