'After Sai Sudharsan gets fit, he will struggle to replace Devdutt Padikkal' - Mohammad Kaif on India's No. 3 debate
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes Devdutt Padikkal has made a compelling case for the No. 3 position after scoring 167 in his third Test.
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Devdutt Padikkal stepped into India's No. 3 position as a replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan and made an immediate impact in the role. The 26-year-old batter scored a maiden Test century on August 15, coinciding with India's 600th Test match at Galle against Sri Lanka. Padikkal's performance proved decisive, as he scored 167 off 230 balls in the first innings and a 75-ball 44 in the second innings, helping India secure a 165-run victory.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has assessed Padikkal's performance and the competition for the No. 3 slot. Kaif believes Padikkal has made a strong case for retaining the No. 3 position, and when Sudharsan returns from injury, he will find it difficult to replace the Karnataka batter. The assessment comes after Padikkal won the Player of the Match award in his third Test appearance.
"He grabbed the chance at the right time. Even when Sai comes back, it will be a tough call because that guy came and straightaway won the match when you desperately needed points. It will be difficult to remove him," Kaif said during a discussion on his YouTube channel.
Sudharsan's record at No. 3 shows inconsistency across his seven Test appearances. In 12 innings, Sudharsan accumulated 383 runs at an average of 31.91, including three fifties with a best score of 87. By contrast, Padikkal has made an immediate impression in limited opportunities. Across three Tests and five innings, Padikkal has scored 301 runs at an average of 60.20, with one century and one fifty.
"Sai Sudharsan got a chance, and he played a 50-run knock in every third or fourth inning. The problem is that the other guy is scoring runs like 160 and becoming the Man of the Match. So, one scores 50 every third inning, and the other plays an impactful inning. The importance of the player who helps Shubman Gill's captaincy and keeps India's WTC hopes alive will matter more. Padikkal has made a strong case there," Kaif said.
Padikkal was the correct choice for Player of the Match award, says Mohammad Kaif
Some fans questioned whether giving Padikkal the Player of the Match award was the correct call. They felt that Manav Suthar was the more deserving candidate after his 10-wicket match haul. However, Kaif said that Padikkal was rightfully conferred with the award as the conditions were spin-friendly and a lot of skill was required in batting to succeed.
"Many people felt that Padikkal did not deserve to be the Man of the Match, and it should have been Suthar. But in my view, it was the right decision because it was a turning track where the ball spun right from Day 1. It was not a pitch where batting became difficult on the third or fourth day onwards. It was not easy. Because he scored 167, Suthar had over 450 runs on the board when he came to bowl," Kaif said.
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