Devdutt Padikkal is set to be included in the Indian squad in Australia, it is learnt. According to sources, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has decided to add the left-hand batsman as an additional member, with Rohit Sharma not playing the first Test. The India captain has informed the BCCI that he will miss the series opener in Perth after the birth of his second child, as he wants to spend some time with his family before going to Australia. Jasprit Bumrah will lead India in the first Test, starting on November 22.
Padikkal went to Australia with the India A team and played two matches. In the first game against Australia A, he made 36 and 88, followed by 26 and 1 in the second. He was part of the India team’s match simulation at the WACA.
With Rohit unavailable and Shubman Gill ruled out of the first Test after suffering a thumb fracture, the tourists have been facing a top-order void. Padikkal impressed the team management during India’s match-simulation training. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan, too, were part of the match-simulation process, and the team management and the selectors had to pick one between the three. It is learnt that Padikkal’s previous Test experience worked in his favour.
The 24-year-old from Karnataka made his Test debut against England in March this year and scored a half-century (65) in a game that India won by an innings and 64 runs. According to sources, he would be added to the squad in Australia as batting cover. Padikkal bats at No. 3 for Karnataka. In the recently concluded ‘A’ series in Australia, he batted at No. 4 and 5.
In Rohit’s absence, KL Rahul is expected to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal in Perth, but with Gill not available as well, the No. 3 position has fallen vacant. It needs to be seen if the team management plays Padikkal in that position.
Dhruv Jurel is set to play in Perth as a specialist batsman, but he is likely to bat down the order, at No. 6.