Devdutt Padikkal Backed for India’s Test No. 3 Spot vs Afghanistan
The Race for India’s Number Three Spot
The cricketing landscape in India is shifting as the national team prepares for a high-stakes one-off Test match against Afghanistan this June. While the contest sits outside the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, it represents a pivotal opportunity for the selectors to experiment. With a tight turnaround between the Test match and the conclusion of the IPL, there is significant speculation regarding the team composition, specifically the vital number three position.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Strategic Endorsement
Former Indian spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin has become a vocal advocate for Devdutt Padikkal, suggesting that the RCB batter is the ideal candidate to cement his place as India’s long-term number three in Test cricket. Padikkal’s resurgence during the IPL 2026 season—where he amassed 367 runs in 12 games at an impressive strike rate of 172.30—has caught the eyes of selectors and analysts alike.
Ashwin, speaking on his YouTube channel, emphasized that Padikkal has evolved significantly as a technician. “I want Devdutt Padikkal to be India’s No. 3 in Test cricket. He has batted so well, and he deserves to be an incumbent Test player for India. He should be given a long-term chance,” Ashwin remarked. The veteran spinner highlighted Padikkal’s newfound proactive approach against spin, noting a transition from playing strictly off the back foot to utilizing sweeps, reverse sweeps, and advanced footwork. Ashwin went as far as to compare the youngster’s development to the proactive style championed by Dinesh Karthik.
Addressing the Sai Sudharsan Conundrum
The selection narrative took a complex turn when Ashwin openly questioned the preference for Sai Sudharsan in the Test lineup. Since the transition into a new era under captain Shubman Gill following the departures of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Sudharsan had been the preferred choice for the number three role. However, Ashwin believes this choice was influenced more by external accolades—such as Sudharsan’s Orange Cap win in IPL 2025—rather than purely technical merit.
“Padikkal was the front runner in the race for the Test cricket team, but Sai Sudharsan surpassed him,” Ashwin noted. “Whether it is right or wrong, if you perform in IPL along with First-Class cricket, your selection becomes much easier.” With Sudharsan struggling to find consistency in the longest format, averaging just 27.45 over 11 Test innings, the pressure is mounting for a change at the top of the order.
The Gambhir Factor and Future Prospects
Beyond Ashwin’s endorsement, reports indicate that head coach Gautam Gambhir is also a significant admirer of Padikkal’s batting prowess. This internal support is crucial, as the coaching staff looks to solidify a batting unit that can thrive in varying international conditions. Despite the backing Sudharsan receives from captain Shubman Gill, his recent performance metrics make a strong case for Padikkal’s inclusion.
Padikkal’s domestic resume provides further weight to these claims. Beyond his brief international exposure where he scored 90 runs in three innings, his performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season was nothing short of exemplary. Scoring 543 runs at an average of 60.33, including two centuries and a half-century, demonstrates that Padikkal possesses the temperament and the technical foundation required for the rigors of Test cricket.
What to Expect in the Afghanistan Test
The upcoming match against Afghanistan provides the perfect platform for this transition. With the potential to rest senior players, the inclusion of Padikkal would allow the team management to observe how the youngster handles the pressure of the red-ball format at the international level. As the cricket world waits for the official squad announcement, one thing is clear: the consensus is growing that India needs a reliable, technically sound player at number three, and Devdutt Padikkal currently stands as the most compelling candidate to fill that void.
Whether the selectors opt for a youth-centric approach or stick to the existing hierarchy, the debate surrounding the number three spot underscores the deep talent pool currently competing for spots in the Indian squad. With the IPL 2026 season serving as a showcase, the path for players like Padikkal to force their way into the Test setup remains clear: perform with consistency, adapt to the demands of the format, and wait for the opportunity to shine on the international stage.
