IND vs ENG 5th Test: As per recent reports, Devdutt Padikkal is likely to make his Test debut ahead of the fifth and final Test against England. He is set to replace Rajat Patidar for the final Test of the five-match series.
The latter failed to make the most of the opportunities presented to him in the ongoing Test series. Patidar replaced KL Rahul after he suffered an injury during the first Test match. The RCB batter got the opportunity to play the second, third, and fourth Tests. However, his performance didn’t inspire any confidence.
Patidar’s scores in the three Tests that he played read: 32, 9, 5, 0, 17 and 0. BCCI, recently, shared the update that KL Rahul is yet to achieve full fitness and has been ruled out of the fifth Test as well.
Hence, Padikkal, in all likelihood, is set to make his Test debut.
“Padikkal will make his debut in Dharamsala,” Hindustan Times quoted a BCCI source as saying.
“Rahul is unlikely to be available and the team management wants to have a look at Padikkal as it is the last international fixture before the IPL.”
The report also mentioned that chief selector Ajit Agarwal spoke with Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma behind the decision regarding Patidar’s inclusion in the eleven.
It is worth mentioning that Devdutt Padikkal will become the fifth batter after Patidar, Sarfaraz, Dhruv Jurel, and Akash Deep to make his Test debut in the ongoing series.
How has Devdutt Padikkal performed in the recent past?
The southpaw has been in superb form of late, as far as his domestic performances are concerned. He is coming on the back of some impressive performances in the ongoing Ranji tournament.
Before being included in India’s squad, Padikkal played four matches in the Ranji Trophy 2024 and amassed 556 runs at an average of 92.66. He began his campaign with a sensational knock of 193 runs and followed it up with three more centuries.
Overall, Devdutt Padikkal has accumulated 2227 runs in 31 first-class matches at an average of 44.54.
IND vs ENG 5th Test
India defeated England by five wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi owing to stellar performances from Dhruv Jurel whose resilient 90 runs helped alter England’s 1st innings lead. R Ashwin then took his 35th five-wicket haul to help India beat England by five wickets in the 4th Test. The fifth and final Test will take place on March 7 in Dharamshala.
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