Why Devdutt Padikkal deserves a regular spot in India XI: 3 key reasons
Sai Sudharsan's injury has opened the door, but Padikkal's numbers suggest he should not be waiting for chances.
2. Padikkal's first-class record shows consistent red-ball form
Padikkal's first-class record makes a strong case for his inclusion. Across 56 first-class matches, he has scored 3,800 runs at an average of 43.18. In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy alone, he scored 543 runs in six matches at an average of 60.33, including a career-best 232 against Uttarakhand and an unbeaten 120 off 85 balls against Punjab. He also scored 67 and 94 in the India A versus Sri Lanka A multi-day series and followed that with an unbeaten 142 off 164 balls in the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. That sequence of scores across formats and conditions reflects consistent red-ball form, not a one-off performance.
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