Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane commented on 26-year-old Devdutt Padikkal after the Test series against Sri Lanka. Padikkal was named the ‘Player of the Series’ for his stunning performance as well. Rahane added that Devdutt Padikkal sealed his spot at the number three position at least for the time being, with Sai Sudharsan out due to injury as well. He smashed two centuries in the series and played a key role in India’s victory in the first Test as well.

“I think he has temporarily sealed the No.3 spot. This is his own hard work, and I am happy with his performance. When they go to New Zealand, the conditions will be different, and preparation will have to be different. But for now, we can celebrate these two centuries,” Rahane said in a video on his Hindi YouTube channel.

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“The way Padikkal batted in both games, one thing was visible that how you look to dominate bowlers while playing at number three, and he did that. Scoring back-to-back hundreds is not easy. It is always important to be decisive as a batter, and he showed that. The intent was there. He had all the shots. He got the opportunity, and he presented his case by batting with authority and the way he scored runs. He read the situation well,” he added.

Apart from Devdutt Padikkal, Ajinkya Rahane added that Dhruv Jurel was another big positive for India in the series as well. Batting lower down the order, he played a couple of crucial knocks across both Tests, including a hundred as well.

“I think the biggest positive was two to three players. Padikkal was consistent. I felt Dhruv Jurel’s batting was another positive. He may have been under some pressure before the series, but made a crucial fifty and a hundred as well. His batting form was very important at that number. We have very few batters like him who bat according to the situation. He is someone who thinks for the team and reads the situation well,” Ajinkya Rahane concluded.