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Padikkal, who made his Test debut in March 2024, played in both the unofficial Tests for India A against Australia A and scored a half-century in the second inning of the first match.
Devdutt Padikkal set to stay in Australia as back-up. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal and not India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, will stay back in Australia as a backup for Indian batters in the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia. According to a report in Cricbuzz on Sunday (November 17), the Indian team management, after consulting with the national selectors, has decided to retain the Karnataka batter as a backup for the senior team.
Devdutt, who made his Test debut for India in March 2024 against England, played in both the unofficial Tests for India A against Australia A earlier this month and scored a half-century in the second inning of the first match played in Mackay.
It has been reported that the decision to keep Padikkal came in the wake of injuries to and unavailability of a couple of key top-order batters ahead of the first Test in Perth, which starts on November 22.
The team management feels Padikkal’s experience and familiarity with Australian conditions make him the ideal choice as a batting backup. The left-handed batter bats in the top-order and can be used as an opener or as a No. 3 batter.
Shami unlikely to be rushed
Star Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, who picked up seven wickets in his first competitive match after almost a year, is unlikely to be rushed to Australia for the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. According to the available information, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has no immediate plans to send the 34-year-old pacer to Australia. Instead, the team management wants him to play a few more domestic matches.
Shami, who last played for India on November 19, 2023, against Australia during the ODI World Cup 2023 final, has played only one first-class match. In that game for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy against Madhya, Shami bowled more than 40 overs. While he has brushed aside concerns related to his form, team management wants him to play a few more domestic games before being considered for an India recall.
There is a high chance that Shami will play for Bengal in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which is set to start on November 23.
