Has Devdutt Padikkal sealed the No.3 spot for New Zealand Tests?

Walking in at 0-1 in the first over after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a four-ball duck, Padikkal made 80 off 140 balls in tough batting conditions, grinding out 91 runs for the second wicket with Sai Sudharsan, and 40 more with Yash Rathod for the third wicket.

After resurrecting the innings, Rathod and Padikkal fell in quick succession as India A lost their way, going from 131-2 to 137-5 and then 160-6. Dhruv Jurel recovered the innings with an unbeaten 99, with India A at 291-7 at the end of the first day's play.

Padikkal's knock was a continuation of the remarkable form he has been in lately. In the first ‘Test’ of this tour, the southpaw smashed a stunning 199 off 248 balls, laced with 24 fours and three sixes.

In August, Padikkal got an opportunity at number three for India against Sri Lanka due to Sudharsan’s injury, and he made it count with 167, 44, and 117 across three innings to help India win the series 1-0. In his last eight first-class innings away from home, he has piled on 800 runs at an average of 100 with three big centuries. With such form on his side, Padikkal is a clear favourite to bat at three in the upcoming series against New Zealand.

But the Indian management might have other plans as they have insisted on giving players a sufficient run. Sudharsan, who was unfortunate to miss the Sri Lanka tour, has also shown good form in the ongoing A series, scoring 91 and 41 in two of the three innings. He had also hammered two centuries against Sri Lanka A in July before picking up a toe injury.

"Sai Sudharsan has not got a fair chance. He played mostly in England, and I believe he needs to get a fair chance,” head coach Gautam Gambhir said in June this year. With that in mind, Padikkal may have to wait for his fair run despite his purple patch.

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