IND vs WI 2025-26: Sai Sudharsan or Devdutt Padikkal – Who will be Team India’s no. 3 batter in Tests against West Indies?
The two-match Test series against the West Indies at home will be a new beginning for Team India, following their golden home red-ball record being jolted by New Zealand last year. Now, it’s another opportunity to open a new book. But as their chief selector Ajit Agarkar mentioned, the Shubman Gill-led side is eager not to repeat the same mistakes from the New Zealand series. However, they still have a problem at number three in the batting department.
Cheteshwar Pujara has officially retired from international cricket. He was the Blue Brigade’s pillar at number three in Tests for several years. However, since he was dropped due to poor scores, the management has struggled to find a stable number three.
During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, only once did their number three celebrate a half-century. It was when Sai Sudharsan scored 61 runs at Old Trafford. This is a concern in the new World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
Read More: Does Sai Sudharsan deserve a long run at no. 3 for India in Tests?
Sai Sudharsan’s strong skill against spinners gives him advantage
Apart from his 61 runs, Sai Sudharsan scored 38, 30, 11, and two ducks at number three during the away England Test series. In six innings, he could only score 140 runs at an average of 23.33. These are undoubtedly not inspiring numbers. His fight was with Karun Nair during that series for number three. At that position, the current Karnataka batter slammed 111 runs in four innings at the best score of 40.
Agarkar’s words not only show the importance of the results for India but also the requirement of stability. And he wasn’t happy with Nair’s performance at number three. After Rahul Dravid’s retirement, Pujara shouldered the responsibility for a long time. However, once the Saurashtra batter was dropped, the issue restarted.
Meanwhile, building forward, India seem to have found their number 3 for the future in Sudharsan. The selection committee hopes to get the faith back in terms of runs. Agarkar thinks that there is a clear path for the Tamil Nadu batter to make the spot his own.
“Eventually, it’s a little bit about continuity. I think there were a few changes at No. 3 (in England), because of the combination that we played. So that just depends on what the captain and the coach at that point want, and what balance they want.” The chief selector expressed this during the press conference while revealing the squad.
The southpaw has smashed 2170 runs in 56 first-class innings at an average of 38.75. He celebrated seven half-centuries and as many centuries at the best score of 213 runs.
In the first unofficial Test against Australia A, he notched up 75 runs. During the following contest, he slammed 73 in the first innings when the second best was 38. Later, the left-handed batter nailed 100 runs during their successful chase of 413 runs in the fourth innings.
“But as far as going forward is concerned, Sai has shown a lot of promise. We know he’s a very good player. Hopefully, we can give him a longish run from now on, at a particular number. Hopefully, going forward, we can give these guys time to actually build their careers.” Agarkar explained.
Read More: IND vs WI 2025-26: Who will be India’s no. 6 batter?
Devdutt Padikkal- India’s new middle-order candidate in Agarkar’s words
Devdutt Padikkal’s Test career has been really interesting. He played his first two Tests in Dharamshala and Perth in a gap of six months before being dropped for the next nine Tests. Now, he again knocks on the selectors’ door. The left-handed batter drilled 57 runs for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025-26.
Padikkal continued the rich form with 150 against Australia A in Lucknow. He could have been an option at number three. But the selection committee appears to have a different plan. Padikkal, over the last two seasons across formats, has earned success in the middle order.
With Rishabh Pant being injured, the Karnataka batter will have the best chance to grab the number five spot. And Agarkar backs him to be a strong contender at number six with Nitish Reddy in the long run when Pant returns from injury at number five.
“Obviously, Devdutt can bat. He batted at No. 4, if I’m not wrong, in Dharamsala and No. 3 in Perth. These are things that eventually the captain and the coach look at, what the best balance is. But Nitish showed a lot of promise.” Agarkar shed light during the press conference.
In his 74 first-class innings, the southpaw has creamed 3038 runs at an average of 43.40. He also recorded seven centuries and 18 half-centuries at the best score of 193 runs.
Read More: India A players to watch out for in Unofficial Test series against Australia A
Sai Sudharsan likely to take No. 3 spot for India during West Indies series
Sudharsan is touted to be one of the best batters of the domestic circuit against the spinners. And the second unofficial Test in Lucknow against Australia A was proof of that. When the Dhruv Jurel-led side was bundled out for 194, he was the leading run-getter with 75 runs, as no one crossed 40 in that scorecard.
This was an example of how he could bat under pressure against the spinners. The West Indies are not expected to be a strong opposition in India in the longest format. But that was the same expectation from New Zealand last year, and they came back to haunt them.
Sudharsan is very much confirmed to start at number three for the series. If he doesn’t do well in four innings, then the selectors can look to promote Padikkal for the South Africa series in November. But for them, the Karnataka batters look to settle at number five against Roston Chase’s army.
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