Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin backed both Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan to play together in the playing XI during the away Tests against New Zealand later this year, but he also feels that Padikkal will be the preferred choice for the No.3 if he continues to play well.

“When we played the practice games at the WACA (before the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy), Padikkal looked really, really comfortable. I feel like he is a batter who has a lot of time to play against pacers. Now, if he scores runs in the second Test, I think he will have to be the No.3 in New Zealand. It’s very difficult to keep him out. As of now, both of them can find a place in the playing XI, but I think if Sudharsan comes back, they will have to give the chance to Padikkal because of the way he has batted,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Apart from applauding his efforts with the bat, which helped Team India gain a stable first-innings lead and advantage in the match, R Ashwin also added what Devdutt Padikkal brings to the table as a fielder as well.

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“The way Devdutt batted, especially on the back foot, and the way he used his feet and shuffled from back to front, was really good. He showed why there is value in spending time in the first-class system. He shaped up his skills there, and he exhibited those here in the Test. He is also a good slip fielder, I hope he gets to field at slip even for spinners. He can be a long-term solution in the slip cordon for spinners. He also has the temperament of Ajinkya Rahane. So, I really hope Devdutt goes from strength to strength because he is a damn good player,” R Ashwin said.

“The way he has given importance to first-class cricket and performed there, I think it is a great thing that has happened to the Indian first-class system. Devdutt Padikkal performed and got into the Test team. It is always hard to keep a good man out. He got the opportunity because of Sai Sudharsan’s injury. If Sai Sudharsan was fit, he would have batted at No.3, because he had scored runs in the last match as well,” R Ashwin concluded.