India and England will face each other in the last game of the five-match Test series in Dharamsala starting on March 07. According to a media report, in this match, the star young batter Devdutt Padikkal is likely to get his Test cap for India. On the other side, the Indian wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul is unlikely to return due to his fitness issues. Rahul has been ruled out from the last game of the series.
With a definitive 3-1 lead in the ongoing five-match Test series against England, India is expected to make some alterations to their playing XI for the final Test, scheduled to commence on March 7 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, The Indian team is set to land in Chandigarh on Saturday, March 2, before boarding a chartered flight to Dharamsala. Given this schedule, the likelihood of Rahul recovering fully by then appears slim. This situation opens the door for Padikkal to potentially make his Test debut.
After the Ranchi Test, the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar had a meeting with head coach Rahul Dravid, the coaching staff, and captain Rohit Sharma. Considering Rahul’s decision to seek consultation with a specialist in London, it was collectively decided that the team would proceed with Padikkal in the upcoming matches.
The left-handed batsman has gathered a total of 2227 runs in 31 first-class cricket matches with an impressive average of 44.54. His cricketing journey includes six centuries and 12 half-centuries. Particularly noteworthy is his outstanding performance in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 season, where he has emerged as the top run-scorer for Karnataka. In four matches, he has amassed 556 runs at an exceptional average of 92.66, featuring three centuries.
