Devdutt Padikkal is in line to become the next number three batter of Team India in the Test. As the board has started its preparations to name a refreshed squad to take on Afghanistan, Padikkal becomes a key contender to be in the team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been monitoring its key players ahead of the upcoming matches. In the next month, Team India will take the field against the Afghanistan cricket team for a one-off Test. Later, Team India will be up against Sri Lanka and New Zealand as well.
Key Points
- Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as a strong contender for India’s No.3 spot in Test cricket.
- India’s core batting group, including Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, is expected to remain unchanged.
- Workload management could lead to major changes in the bowling attack for the Afghanistan Test.
The core batting group is likely to remain intact
Ahead of these contests, BCCI will have to finalize its squad. It is reported that the regular batters, like the captain Shubman Gill, Yashavsi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, are all set to feature in the Test against Afghanistan. But a major shuffle is expected in the bowling department. A call on Dvdutt Padikkal is also expected to be made soon.
BCCI has been monitoring the players constantly amid the ongoing IPL 2026 season with the help of the medical team. The medical team’s duty is to record the information regarding the players’ fitness. As of now, there are no red flags on any of the key players’ fitness.
“The initial plan was to keep monitoring the players' workload, and the medical team has not found any red flags at the moment regarding the batting group. There is still a week before the IPL playoffs picture becomes clearer, but all the regular batters - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant - are all set to take the field for the Afghanistan Test. The BCCI gets regular data on player workload during the IPL and is satisfied with what it has seen so far,” The Times of India mentioned in their report.
The bowling department can be shuffled
Keeping an eye on the Test series against Sri Lanka, the board can keep some of their frontline bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah on rest during the Afghanistan Test in Mullanpur. The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan will start from June 6, under the scorching sun. While Bumrah is likely to provide rest, a late call is expected to be made on the other pacers, like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
“The bowling group is where changes are expected, as workload management is likely to kick in. There is no point burning the bowlers out for this fixture, and it is also a great opportunity for selectors to test some quicks and spinners ahead of the all-important Test series in Sri Lanka,” the source further told the media house.
Devdutt Padikkal can be named the number 3 batter in the Test team
The batting unit can keep their core, but the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will have to take a crucial call for the number three position. Since the retirement of Virat Kohli from Tests, that spot remains a concern for the team management. Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar are amongst the batters who are strong contenders to be in the spot. Devdutt Padikkal is also in contention.
As it is reported, the selectors have been keeping an eye on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter, Devdutt Padikkal, as well, who is in good form in IPL 2026, and played well in the previous domestic seasons as well.
"While he (Sai Sudharshan) enjoys the support of the team management, it remains to be seen for how long he can keep out an in-form Devdutt Padikkal, who has been performing consistently in the domestic circuit," it further claimed in the report.
