Devdutt Padikkal Likely to Make Test Debut In Dharamsala Test vs England

Dharamsala: Devdutt Padikkal is likely to make his debut for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming fifth Test match against England in Dharamsala, according to reports. This comes as KL Rahul remains sidelined with injury and Rajat Patidar’s recent struggles with the bat.

Reports suggest that the team management is keen on giving Padikkal a chance, especially since this is the last international fixture before the IPL 2024 season kicks off. Padikkal’s inclusion comes amidst exclusion of players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, who didn’t adhere to the BCCI’s directive to participate in domestic cricket during their off-time from national duties.

Ishan Kishan, despite not being on national duty, opted out of playing Ranji Trophy matches for Jharkhand, focusing instead on IPL preparations. Shreyas Iyer, who was left out of the Indian team after the second Test against England, also did not make himself available for Mumbai’s Ranji quarterfinal match against Baroda, although he has been selected for the upcoming semifinals.

The BCCI reiterated its stance on prioritizing domestic cricket, stating that players like Iyer and Kishan were not considered for central contracts due to their lack of participation in domestic games. The board emphasized the importance of players representing the national team to actively engage in domestic cricket during their free periods.