The only Test to be played between India and Afghanistan in New Chandigarh is starting from 6th June. Before this match, Team India is sweating profusely in the nets. During practice in the nets on Thursday (June 4), top order batsman Sai Sudarshan again lost control of his bat. Sudarshan’s bat slipped from his hand and went backward. Sudarshan was out hit-wicket in two consecutive matches in the same manner in IPL 2026, due to which many memes were made before the final. Now once again losing the bat from his hand can force him out of the upcoming Test match.
Will Sudarshan be removed from number 3?
Sudarshan was dropped by the Indian team in the Kolkata Test against South Africa. He returned in the second Test played in Guwahati but could not do anything special. He could score only 15 runs in the first innings, while only 14 runs in the second innings. He has played 6 Test matches so far, in which his average is just above 27. Despite getting continuous opportunities at number-3, he has failed to play big innings. Team India can try Devdutt Padikkal at this position in New Chandigarh. Padikkal is going through excellent form.
What is the Indian team thinking?
Team India’s assistant coach Ryan Deshkate believes that after the retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara, many batsmen have been tried at number 3 and now the time has come that Sudarshan or Padikkal should be given a chance for a long time. Deshkate said in the press conference on Thursday, ‘Many batsmen have been tried at that number, which is not an ideal situation. We have to consider the contenders for that number and give a chance to one for a long time.
Sudarshan or Padikkal, who will get the chance?
Both Sudarshan and Padikkal have practiced extensively in the nets but Deshkate did not reveal who among them would get a chance. Even after looking at the fielding in the slips, it was not clear which of these players would be selected. Padikkal was first seen standing in the slips with KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill. After Rahul went to the nets, Sudarshan practiced catching in the slips in his place.
“This is a very difficult but important position in the batting order,” Deutsche said. Dev has scored a lot of runs in all formats in domestic cricket and Sai has also performed brilliantly for Gujarat in the IPL. Both are in good form. He further said, ‘We will have to trust whichever batsman is selected for this number. Right now we have to play only one Test match and then there is no Test match for two months. After that there are two Test matches and then no matches for some time. In such a situation the situation becomes difficult and we have to keep this in mind.
Indian team for the one-off test against Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudarshan, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper).
