Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta urged Team India to play star batter Devdutt Padikkal at No.3 if Sai Sudharsan is ruled out with injury for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, starting August 15. Sai is dealing with a toe injury that has seen him not join the Indian team yet. With his availability for the first match in doubt, Dasgupta wants the management to play the same batter at No.3 in both Tests as well.

Talking about this, Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel, “I believe it’s important to provide that message to Padikkal that he’ll play both Tests even if Sai is fit for the second. Because it’s only a two-match series, if Padikkal plays the first match, he should play the second as well. Giving Sai a long rope is fair, and that security is also needed for players. But just like Sai deserves that security, if Padikkal plays in his spot at No.3 in the first Test, he also deserves that security.”

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He again said, “It looks like Sai will be fit to play in the first Test. But if he doesn’t and Padikkal plays at No.3, they must remember that it’s only a two-match series. So even if Sai regains fitness for the second Test, do you want to get him back in the 11 or should Padikkal be told that he’ll play both the matches irrespective of whether Sai gets fit for the second Test or not?”

Deep Dasgupta also believes Team India’s practice match against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) XI will not be an ideal preparation for the pitches likely to be used in the two-match Test series as well. However, he also called it better preparation than net sessions, given the lack of consequences in the latter.

“The pitch will almost certainly be a belter. Obviously, as an opposition, you don’t want India to have proper match practice. So as much as possible, you’ll hide your better bowlers. The pitch given will also be very different to the one that’ll be present in the actual Test match. But still, having the game situation will be better than batting in the nets, as there will be consequences. In the nets, even if you are out, you can keep batting. But in a match situation, the mind will be occupied with the consequence of getting out. You can’t get too much out of a practice match, though,” Deep Dasgupta concluded.