New Delhi: India have reportedly added Devdutt Padikkal to their squad ahead of the 1st Test against Australia at Perth in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. With skipper Rohit Sharma set to miss the first Test after the birth of his son and doubts over Shubman Gill’s participation in the game after a thumb fracture, the Indian team management decided to add Padikkal to the squad.
Padikkal had travelled to Australia with the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India A team for two unofficial Tests against Australia A and was asked to stay back in the country. The Karnataka batter scored 151 runs for India A in 4 innings against Australia A, including a brilliant 88-run knock in Mackay.
As per a report in the Hindustan Times, Padikkal has been officially added to the Indian squad and is expected to take Gill’s place in the playing XI in the series opener in Perth which gets underway on Friday.
Gill had injured his finger while fielding during Team India’s match simulation in Perth. Scans later confirmed Gill had fractured his thumb which put his participation in the 1st Test under the scanner. Though India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Wednesday that a call on Gill’s participation will be taken on the morning of the 1st Test, it is understood that the right-hander will miss the game.
In Gill’s absence, Padikkal is expected to bat at no.3 with KL Rahul likely to replace Rohit as an opener in the Perth encounter. Padikkal made his Test debut for India against England in Dharamshala earlier this year where he scored a commanding half-century. It will be Padikkal’s only second appearance for India in the whites if he manages to make the cut in the XI for the Perth Test.
Yash Dayal joins India’s reserves
Meanwhile, the Indian team management has also flown in young left-arm pacer Yash Dayal from South Africa to keep him in the reserves for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Dayal was part of India’s Test squad in their home series against New Zealand last month but didn’t get a chance to make his debut in the whites.
He had travelled to South Africa with the Indian T20I team for the recently concluded three-match series against the Proteas. Dayal has been called up after left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed returned home due to an injury. Dayal will join Navdeep Saini and Mukesh Kumar in India’s reserves for the five-match Test series.
Team India have reportedly added left-hand batter Devdutt Padikaal to the squad for the 1st Test against Australia in Perth. The team management and the selectors have also flown in a young pacer to join the reserves for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
