Why Devdutt Padikkal deserves a regular spot in India XI: 3 key reasons

Devdutt Padikkal has been on the fringes of India's Test setup for some time, often making way for Sai Sudharsan at the No. 3 position. The left-handed Karnataka batter finally got his opportunity in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, starting August 15, 2026, after Sudharsan was ruled out with a big-toe injury.

Padikkal responded with an unbeaten 131 off 178 balls on Day 1 at Galle, his maiden Test century. That knock has renewed the debate about whether he should be a regular name in India's Test XI rather than a replacement option.

Sai Sudharsan averages 31.91 across seven Tests, with three fifties and no century to his name. Before the Afghanistan series, his figures were even lower, with 302 runs from six Tests at an average of 27.45. The India management, including captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir, continued to back Sudharsan at No. 3 despite those modest returns and calls for Padikkal to be given a sustained run. A Test average in the low thirties, after seven matches, is not the kind of return that justifies holding on to a spot ahead of a batter who has been more productive at the domestic level.