“He deserves to play at No. 3” – Wasim Jaffer picks Shubman Gill's replacement for IND vs AUS 1st Test
Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has picked Devdutt Padikkal as injured Shubman Gill’s replacement for the first Test against Australia in Perth, starting Wednesday, November 22. Jaffer stressed that the southpaw will bring a different prospect in the batting order.
Padikkal recently returned with scores of 36, 88, 26, and 1 in his four innings for India A against Australia A. He scored 65 runs in his only Test outing for India against England in Dharamsala earlier this year. In first-class career, the 24-year-old has 2677 runs in 40 matches with the help of six tons and 17 half-centuries.
Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo:
"I believe Padikkal should be played at No. 3, he has played Tests for India before and is familiar with that number. He has scored runs there and is also a left-handed batsman, so he deserves to play at No. 3.”
It’s worth mentioning that Gill sustained a left thumb fracture during the intra-squad practice match.
“I would play Rahul as an opener” – Wasim Jaffer picks Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opener partner in Rohit Sharma’s absence
Wasim Jaffer also picked KL Rahul as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s opening partner in regular skipper Rohit Sharma’s absence (unavailable due to paternity leave). He further included in-form Dhruv Jurel in the middle order for the Perth Test.
Jaffer said in the same interaction:
“Also, I would play Rahul as an opener along with Jaiswal. Dhruv Jurel will also be in my playing XI, he is an in-form player. I would like to see him at No. 6 because he does not play much at No. 3,” he added.
As an opener, Rahul has amassed 2551 runs in 49 Tests, including seven tons and 12 50s. Overall, he has 2981 runs in 53 Tests.
Meanwhile, Jurel looked brilliant for India A in the recently concluded two-match Test series against Australia A. The wicketkeeper-batter returned with scores of 93, 80, and 68 in his three outings. In Tests, he has 190 runs in four innings with the best score of 90 against England.