Devdutt Padikkal, the cricketer from Karnataka, got chosen to play his first Test match for India in the upcoming game against England, starting on February 15th. He’s stepping in for KL Rahul, who hurt his knee and can’t play. The Cricket Board in India (BCCI) said Rahul’s getting better and will train more to join the team later.
Rahul’s been playing great lately after coming back from an injury before the 2023 World Cup. Even in the last Test against England, he scored big for India. His absence is a setback, but it’s a chance for Padikkal, who’s been doing well in local cricket matches.
Padikkal’s famous for his IPL performances, but he’s also good at traditional red-ball cricket. In the matches he’s played so far, he’s scored lots of runs with a good average. This season, he’s been outstanding, hitting three centuries and a high score of 193.
He did great for India A against England Lions too. Padikkal had some tough times earlier, missing out on matches due to illness and injuries. But now, he’s back in form.
Padikkal might debut in Rajkot. He’s been training with the senior team and is ready to fill in the spots left vacant by injured players like Rahul and possibly Jadeja.
The team might see new faces in the middle order for the next game. Players like Sarfaraz and Padikkal could get their first chance to play for India in Tests.