Devdutt Padikkal has strengthened his case for a regular place in India’s Test team after producing an impressive 199-run knock for India A against New Zealand A in Lincoln. The left-handed batter narrowly missed a double century by one run, but his performance in challenging overseas conditions could encourage the selectors to consider him for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand. Padikkal’s innings was particularly significant after his disappointing performances against Australia A at home.

By delivering in New Zealand, he demonstrated his ability to adapt to unfamiliar conditions and strengthened his credentials for the No. 3 position in India’s Test batting order. The Karnataka batter’s journey back to form has not been straightforward. A couple of years ago, he was struggling for consistency and was not a guaranteed selection even in domestic cricket. Although his talent was never in question, Padikkal needed to make technical adjustments and work hard away from the spotlight to rediscover his best form.

In a recent interaction with the media, Padikkal credited his Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate Virat Kohli for helping him understand the demands of red-ball cricket. Having shared the dressing room with Kohli in the Indian Premier League, the young batter has closely observed the former India captain’s approach to batting.

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Padikkal’s resurgence has also been evident in the IPL. He played important roles for RCB during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, a period in which the franchise won consecutive titles. His aggressive batting in IPL 2026 was widely seen as a turning point, helping him build confidence before carrying that momentum into the longer format.

Performing consistently in SENA countries — South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia — is a major challenge for visiting batters. Padikkal’s earlier struggles against Australia A raised questions about his ability to handle overseas conditions, making his latest innings in New Zealand particularly encouraging.

The left-hander explained that Kohli’s performances in first-class and international cricket had taught him valuable lessons about succeeding in the longest format. “You do not necessarily have to ask him what it takes to succeed in red-ball cricket. He has shown all of us what it takes through the way he played, and that is something I have learnt from,” Devdutt Padikkal said.

The 26-year-old has made a promising start to his Test career. In four Test matches for India, he has scored 418 runs in six innings at an average of 69.66, including two centuries and a half-century. Both hundreds came against Sri Lanka in Galle and Colombo in August, showcasing his ability to convert starts into substantial scores.

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Devdutt Padikkal has also played two T20 internationals, both in July 2021, but has not featured regularly in India’s limited-overs plans since then. His immediate priority, however, will be to maintain his red-ball form and make a strong case for selection in the upcoming New Zealand Test series. His unbeaten 199-run effort has placed him firmly in contention, although the final decision will depend on the selectors’ requirements and India’s team combination.