Devdutt Padikkal is in line to become Team India’s next number three batsman in Tests. As the board has started preparations to announce the new team to face Afghanistan, Padikkal has become a leading contender to be included in the team.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is keeping an eye on its key players upcoming matches. Next month, Team India will take the field for the only test against Afghanistan cricket team. Later, Team India will also face Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
key points
- Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as a strong contender for India’s number 3 position 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.
Core batting group likely to remain intact
Before these competitions, BCCI has to finalize its squad. It has been reported that regular batsmen like the captain Shubman GillYashwasi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul are all set to play in the Test against Afghanistan. But a major reshuffle is expected in the bowling department. Davdutt Padikkal is also expected to be called soon.
BCCI is continuously monitoring the players with the help of the medical team during the ongoing IPL 2026 season. The job of the medical team is to record information related to the fitness of the players. At the moment, there is no doubt over the fitness of any key player.
“The initial plan was to monitor the workload of the players, and the medical team has not found any red flags with regard to the batting group at the moment. There is still a week to go for the IPL playoff picture to be clear, but all the regular batsmen – 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 the workload of the players during the IPL and from what it has seen so far Satisfied,” The Times of India noted in its report.
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There can be a reshuffle in the bowling department
With an eye on the Test series against Sri Lanka, the board may rest some of its frontline bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah during the Afghanistan Test in Mullanpur. the only test between India and Afghanistan It will start from 6th June under scorching heat. While Bumrah is likely to be rested, a late decision on other fast bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna is expected to be taken.
The source further told the media house, “The bowling group is where changes are expected, as workload management is likely to pick up the pace. There is no point in burning bowlers for this fixture, and it is a great opportunity for the selectors to test some pacemen and spinners ahead of the all-important Test series in Sri Lanka.”
Devdutt Padikkal can be made number 3 batsman in the test team
The batting unit may keep its core, but the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee will have to take a crucial decision for the number three position. Since the retirement of Virat Kohli From Tests onwards, that position remains a matter of concern for the team management. Sai Sudarshan and Washington Sundar are among the batsmen who are strong contenders to retain this position. Devdutt Padikkal is also in contention.
As reported, the selectors are also eyeing Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who has been in good form in IPL 2026 and has played well in the last domestic season as well.
“While he (Sai ​​Sudarshan) has the support of the team management, it remains to be seen how long he can keep out the in-form Devdutt Padikkal, who has been performing consistently in the domestic circuit,” the report further claimed.
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