Due to the probable absence of captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill for the series opener in Perth next week, the Indian team management was forced to ask Devdutt Padikkal to remain for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as a backup batter. Although KL Rahul is scheduled to open the first Test, India reportedly selected Padikkal to replace Gill.
Rohit Sharma To Miss First Test in Perth
Following the birth of their second child on Friday, Rohit and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, will not be participating in the first Test match at the Optus Stadium, which starts on November 22. Before the second Test match in Adelaide, which will be played with pink balls, he will be joining the Indian team. Jasprit Bumrah, the vice-captain, will therefore take over as captain of the Indian team in Perth.
Gill Fractured His Thumb
However, Gill will not be included in the starting lineup for the first Test after breaking his thumb while batting in the intra-squad game at the WACA on Saturday. In the opening game, the management is probably going to give Padikkal the No. 3 spot, according to a Times of India report. According to a trustworthy source, “he is likely to bat at the No 3 spot now,” the website reported.
Padikkal Overall Performance
Earlier this year, in the home Test series against England, Padikkal made his debut for India by batting at No. 4 and scoring 65 in the lone innings he batted in Dharamsala. Despite being a member of the India A team in Australia, the left-hander had a quiet series against Australia A, scoring 36, 88, 26, and 1 in four innings.
Harshit Rana Set For His Debut vs Australia
Harshit Rana, a speedster for Delhi who was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this month for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, is expected to receive his first international cap in Perth, according to the report.
In ten first-class games thus far, the KKR fast bowler has taken 43 wickets at a rate of 24. Before playing as a net bowler for the Indian team in the New Zealand series, he participated in one Ranji Trophy match this season against Assam in Delhi, where he claimed five wickets and scored fifty.
