Devdutt Padikkal strengthens India No.3 Test claim at Hagley Oval

After his 199 in the first unofficial Test, Devdutt Padikkal made 80 off 140 balls for India A on Day 1 of the second against New Zealand A at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Wisden reports. The conditions were tough for batting, and India A ended the day on 291-7, with Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 99.

Wisden says the innings strengthens Padikkal’s case for the No.3 spot in India’s Test side. It adds that the Indian management has insisted on giving players a sufficient run, so it may have other plans for that slot.

The innings

Padikkal walked in at 0-1 in the first over, after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a four-ball duck. He added 91 for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan and 40 for the third with Yash Rathod.

The slide came once Rathod and Padikkal fell in quick succession. India A went from 131-2 to 137-5 and then 160-6, before Jurel’s unbeaten 99 pulled them to 291-7.

Form going into the Tests

His 199 in the first unofficial Test came off 248 balls, with 24 fours and three sixes. PTI reports that India A had been bundled out for 113 in 39.3 overs in the first innings of that game. Padikkal’s knock then helped them post 516 in the second innings and set New Zealand A a target of 313. He also took two wickets with his spin.

Sai Sudharsan, who had a first-innings duck in that game, made 91 in the second innings, according to PTI.

What’s next

Padikkal is in India’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour, which the BCCI announced under captain Shubman Gill. The two-Test series, part of the WTC, starts on Thursday, 19 November at 3:30 AM IST, with the first Test in Wellington. The second follows on Friday, 27 November, and the series runs to 1 December.

Before that, India play the fifth T20I against New Zealand on Sunday, 1 November, and the first ODI on Wednesday, 4 November.