Former Indian middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane, who recently announced his retirement from all formats of the game, has reckoned that Devdutt Padikkal is expected to do well at No.3 for India in the two-match Test series vs Sri Lanka.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rahane has asserted that Padikkal needs to overcome the initial phase with the willow to do well, adding that he has been exceptional against spin off the front and backfoot.
“The Sri Lankan conditions will suit him really well. He just needs to overcome the initial phase because he will bat at No.3. Once he is set, he has the complete arsenal against spin off the front and backfoot. Being proactive will be very important at No.3. If the No.3 batter gives the first counterpunch, the team can dominate the game,” Rahane said on his YouTube channel.
“Padikkal has been in outstanding form. He has been in great rhythm everywhere across formats. It will be important for him to trust his form and rhythm and not put pressure on himself. He knows how to score runs and can play the cut, sweep and step out against the spinners,” he added.
For the unversed, Padikkal scored an unbeaten 142 runs off 164 balls playing for India against the Sri Lanka Cricket XI in the three-day warm-up fixture in Colombo. Moreover, Rahane has advised the Indian team not to think much about their current WTC standings.
“India should not think of the WTC points and take Sri Lanka lightly. They’ve to first see how to win the first Test and then think about a 2-0 win entering the second Test. Identifying and dominating the crucial moments will decide the series. This will be a closely contested series because Sri Lanka are also hungry to perform well in Tests. I feel this series will not be one-sided,” Rahane concluded.
