Chennai, Sept 8:
Devdutt Padikkal knows that opportunities to establish a permanent place in India’s Test team are limited and says he is determined to keep producing runs rather than take his position for granted after making a strong return to the side.
The Karnataka batter grabbed his opportunity on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, scoring 328 runs in three innings, including back-to-back centuries. He was given his chance after regular No. 3 Sai Sudharsan suffered a foot injury.
Padikkal admitted that breaking into India’s Test XI is increasingly difficult because of the intense competition for places. “You get limited opportunities these days, and it’s not very easy to cement a place in a side,” he said, stressing that his immediate objective was to continue scoring runs and contributing to victories.
The 26-year-old said he had been particularly motivated after being told by the team management before the Sri Lanka series that he would bat at No. 3 in both Tests. Having last represented India in Perth in November 2024, he understood the importance of making the most of his return.
Padikkal said he had been in one of the best phases of his batting career when the opportunity arrived. Rather than allowing the long wait to affect him, he focused on preparing himself so that he would be ready whenever the next chance came.
He also spoke about the influence of former India coach Rahul Dravid, under whom he made his Test debut against England in early 2024. Padikkal said conversations with Dravid about batting, preparation and spending long periods at the crease had helped him develop greater clarity about his approach.
The challenge before him is considerable. No. 3 has traditionally been one of the most demanding positions in India’s Test batting order, with Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara having established a formidable legacy there.
Padikkal, however, said he was not allowing comparisons with his predecessors to distract him. His focus, he said, was simply to play his own cricket, enjoy the challenge and continue contributing to the team.
His recent performances have strengthened his case, but Padikkal understands that consistency will ultimately determine whether he can turn a short-term opportunity into a long-term place in India’s Test side.