Devdutt Padikkal has been added to India’s squad for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Padikkal replaces Rohit Sharma, who is unavailable due to personal reasons, and his inclusion comes as a boost for the team following his impressive performances during the India A tour of Australia. The southpaw scored a crucial 88 against Australia A earlier this month and boasts a stellar first-class average of 58.57.
Padikkal’s inclusion
Padikkal’s addition is not surprising given Team India’s current batting concerns. With Shubman Gill’s availability still uncertain due to a finger injury, Padikkal has been preparing to step into the playing XI. During a practice session at Perth’s Optus Stadium, Padikkal was seen fielding at first slip, a position usually occupied by Gill. This signals that the Karnataka batter could potentially bat at number three and take over slip fielding duties.
Yash Dayal as travelling reserve
Yash Dayal has also joined the squad as an extra travelling reserve. Dayal, who was part of the squad for the New Zealand Test series, will accompany the already selected reserves—Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, and Khaleel Ahmed. It remains unclear if Dayal’s inclusion is due to an injury concern among the current reserves or for additional squad depth.
India’s squad for the first Test
- Playing Squad: Jasprit Bumrah (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
- Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Yash Dayal.
Potential XI and challenges
India’s lineup for the first Test is still under speculation with several uncertainties around Gill and other playing combinations. However, Padikkal’s inclusion offers a reliable batting option in the absence of Rohit Sharma. His ability to handle Australian conditions could be a crucial factor as India aims to begin the series on a positive note.
The first Test begins on November 22 at Perth’s Optus Stadium, with India facing a tough challenge on a pace-friendly surface amidst “unseasonal rains.”