When the selectors decided to drop Syed Kirmani for the tour of England in 1979, Khanna was given the big break. He was the designated wicket-keeper for India in the 1979 World Cup. He played without much success in all the three World Cup games and the Test place went to the other debutant Bharath Reddy. He did not enjoy a very good record in the first class games, scoring but 41 runs in six games (four innings). He was dropped from the Indian team after that.