Historically, batting at number three for the Indian Test team has carried immense prestige, having previously been anchored by legends like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara. However, filling the void left by Pujara has proven difficult. Despite trying multiple players, the team management has struggled to pin down a reliable, long-term successor for this demanding position.
Recent catching drills in the Mullanpur slip cordon suggest the competition has narrowed to two primary candidates. According to assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, following the conclusion of the IPL, the battle for the critical number three spot is now a direct contest between Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan.
Both players bring serious momentum to the selection table, though their recent successes have come in slightly different arenas.
Padikkal makes a compelling case following a tremendous domestic run across all formats. In his last Ranji Trophy campaign, he piled up 543 runs in six matches at an impressive average of 60.33, backing it up with 309 runs at an average of 61 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His momentum carried into the IPL, where his 464 runs (averaging 33.14 with a blistering strike rate of 168.72) and three half-centuries were instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful title defence.
Conversely, Sudharsan has experienced a more fragmented run in first-class cricket, and his earlier auditions at number three didn’t yield massive scores. However, a mammoth IPL 2026 season for the Gujarat Titans keeps him firmly on the selectors’ radar. He amassed a staggering 722 runs across 17 games, averaging 45.13 at a strike rate of 157.98, highlighted by a century and eight fifties. Furthermore, he recently excelled in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Tamil Nadu, scoring 192 runs at an average of 38.40, including an unbeaten hundred.
The Search for Stability
As India chase crucial World Test Championship (WTC) points, ten Doeschate emphasised the need to end the revolving door at the top of the order. Addressing the media in Mullanpur, he acknowledged the recent instability.
“Look, there’s been a lot of changes in that spot and that’s not ideal,” ten Doeschate told reporters on Thursday. “You need to look at the incumbents for that role and maybe stick to something. It’s a difficult position to bat and a very important position to bat.”
The assistant coach assured that the management intends to select a player this Saturday and back him fully despite the fragmented international schedule.
“I think whoever plays will be given a bit of rope,” he said. “It’s quite difficult with one Test match now, and then we don’t play a Test match for another two months. We need to factor that in, but the main point is we want to make a decision and then trust that player to grow into the role. We don’t have time to bed people in.”
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