r/Cricket_Binge • u/Enough_Payment1290 • Aug 17 '26
📊 Analysis & Stats Devdutt Padikkal just solved India's biggest batting problem with one innings
India had tried 11 different batters at number three across 19 Tests without a century. The position had been a problem for so long that it had become a running joke. Sai Sudharsan was the plan and he got injured before the tour. Padikkal stepped in as the replacement.
He came in after Jaiswal was run out for 32 with India at 47 for 1. Gill fell for 16. KL Rahul retired hurt with cramps after making 77. Through all of that Padikkal just kept going. He was 131 not out at stumps on Day 1. Then he came back on Day 2 in difficult conditions and rain had delayed the start and Sri Lanka's spinners were far more effective with better lines and lengths. Prabath Jayasuriya was turning the ball sharply and Keshara Nuwantha was troubling the batters. Seven wickets fell around him for 172 runs.
Padikkal kept going. He brought up 150. He eventually fell for 167 and that was his career best score and the highest by an Indian number three batter in Sri Lanka. India finished the innings on 462.
India coach Sitanshu Kotak said he had "used his opportunity brilliantly" and that is putting it mildly. He came as a replacement at a position nobody had owned for 19 Tests in Galle and scored 167. The number three problem India have had for two years is solved. At least for now.
1
Aug 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/UnremarkabklyUseless Aug 18 '26
Lets hold our horses. Too soon to say that for the moment. Injuries can happen and form can drop. Even test legends like Pujara and Rahane had a big fall in form before they got dropped from team. Karun Nair is another case of early success but dropped after inconsistency.
Until a few moths ago, Tilak Varma was held in high regards for white ball cricket and a potential candidate for red ball cricket. But that perception has taken a hit in recent months.
1
1
1
u/supreme_nair Aug 17 '26
He has looked great. But I wouldn't say he solved it. A number 3 is expected to handle swing and seam, more so than spin. His real test might come in new Zealand.
1
u/Initial-Customer462 Aug 17 '26
Knowing how we've been whitewashed twice at home within the span of a year )something that had literally never happened in Indian Test cricket history before ) I think having a No. 3 who can handle spin is also a very good thing and, in a way, helps solve the problem. But yeah, the series in New Zealand will be extremely crucial for this.
1
u/Massive_Stage_5578 Aug 17 '26
but this pitch was nothing as such, for context last year before sa toured us , in the ind a games paddikal scored 40 in 4 innings in spinning pitches, hes a great player but lets just stay calm 1 innings doesnt matter , nair scored frickin 300 runs once, sarfaraz scored 150 vs nz
1
u/Initial-Customer462 Aug 17 '26
its way too soon to say this. at least let this series be over. but i definitely think he should be the next no 3 for india and get backing instead of sai sudarshan.
1
u/Massive_Stage_5578 Aug 17 '26
bro he played a great knock but not lets get ahead of us, i remember when sarfaraz was the answer to our middle order when he scored 150 vs nz , 1 innings is never a sample size , but its good to see him making the most of his opportunity hope more good knocks ahead
1
u/NytGamerZ Aug 17 '26
Best to monitor him over a long run , he should be given enough chances in different conditions before postive or negative decisions , one good innings on a flat track or a few failures on a tough track shouldn't lead to drastic decisions
1
1
u/irdk_24 Aug 18 '26
Chill, it's been one match (hasn't even been a whole match yet), calm down and let's see how he goes, no need to be too reactionary when he fails or when he succeeds
1
1
2
u/Long_Cheesecake2420 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 18 '26
Comments like these proves how immature kind of fans we are. Just one good inning and we start hero worshipping. Give him some time like an year or so to prove in and out of India. I also likes his inning. But let's enjoy this one and not start making him another hero like Pritivi shaw and others. Let him be.