The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A team, which has been in Australia for the past 20 days, is set to return home within the next 24 hours. However, Devdutt Padikkal will not accompany the side. The Indian team management, in consultation with the national selectors, has decided to retain the Karnataka batter as a backup for the senior team, which will compete in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia over the next 50 days.
The decision comes in the wake of injuries to, and unavailability of, a couple of key top-order batters ahead of the first Test in Perth, scheduled to start on November 22. Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the series opener due to a fractured thumb, while skipper Rohit Sharma, who stayed back in India for the birth of his second child, is unlikely to be available for the match. Additionally, there is an injury concern for KL Rahul, who was struck on the elbow. However, the 32-year-old managed to bat during the three-day match simulation at the WACA on Sunday (November 17).
Padikkal registered scores of 36, 88, 26, and 1 in his four innings against Australia A team recently. While these performances were not significant enough to merit a spot in the senior national team under normal circumstances, the team management believes his experience and familiarity with Australian conditions make him the ideal choice as a batting backup. Padikkal played his only Test so far against England earlier this year. He has also featured in T20Is.
Meanwhile, there is no clarity regarding Rohit’s travel plans. With his wife having recently delivered a baby, it is expected that he will depart for Australia soon, though the exact date remains uncertain. As a result, his availability for the first Test appears unlikely. Additionally, it has been learned that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has no immediate plans to send Mohammed Shami to Australia.
The pacer recently returned to competitive cricket after almost a year, featuring in a Ranji Trophy match between Bengal and Madhya Pradesh in Indore. However, it is understood that the team management prefers he plays a few more domestic games before being considered for an India recall. This suggests that Shami might represent Bengal in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, which is set to begin in about a week.