With the mercury hovering close to 40°C in Mullanpur and the afternoon sun making every drill feel harder, the India squad put in another demanding training session on Thursday. The session came just days after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League, as the side looks to switch gears for a one-off Test against Afghanistan that starts on Saturday.
Key takeaways
- India’s red-ball preparations continued in Mullanpur on Thursday ahead of the Afghanistan Test starting Saturday.
- With the IPL finishing three days earlier and most of the final-playing group already returning to Test mode, the team appeared sharp in session work.
- Ravindra Jadeja has been rested, leaving India to decide which of Harsh Dubey or Manav Suthar could make a Test debut.
- A major selection debate remains over the No. 3 batting spot, which has seen multiple experiments since Cheteshwar Pujara’s departure.
- Padikkal is in the slip cordon at third slip, while there is a toss-up for No. 3 between Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal.
The No. 3 puzzle stays front and centre
Before the players even stepped into the nets, India’s slip fielders spent close to half an hour honing catching skills at the venue. Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were positioned at first, second and fourth slip respectively, while Devdutt Padikkal took charge at third slip and looked comfortable throughout the drills.
There is an ongoing toss-up for the No. 3 role between Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal, a position that has effectively rotated frequently in recent times. Since Cheteshwar Pujara left the side, seven different batters have been tried at No. 3.
Sudharsan has already batted at No. 3 in 11 Test innings, but his numbers have not been particularly commanding. His average sits at 27.45, and he has managed to pass the 50-run mark only twice.
Padikkal, meanwhile, has played two Tests so far, with his most recent outing coming in Perth during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The Karnataka batter’s case has also been strengthened by a strong domestic season, where he finished last Ranji Trophy campaign with 532 runs from five matches at an average of 66.50. He included a career-best 232 in the semifinal against Uttarakhand at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate acknowledged that not having a settled No. 3 has been a source of concern. Speaking to reporters, he said that frequent changes at the spot are not ideal, and that teams generally need to identify the right incumbent and back him through the role. He added that the No. 3 position is particularly demanding and significant in Test cricket.
Ten Doeschate also pointed out the contrasting strengths of the possible options. He noted that Devdutt Padikkal enters with a substantial run tally from domestic cricket across formats, while Sudharsan has delivered an impressive IPL season for Gujarat. He stressed that whichever player gets picked should be given time to settle in, while also acknowledging the challenge created by the Test schedule. “We have one Test now, then no Test cricket for another couple of months. After that, there are two Tests and then another break. We need to factor that into our thinking,” he said.
The assistant coach further underlined that India cannot afford an extended bedding-in period given where they stand in the World Test Championship table. He said that in hindsight, fixing the No. 3 earlier might have been a better approach.
With Padikkal operating in the slip cordon at third slip, the session setup suggests he could be viewed as the front-runner over Sai for the No. 3 spot.
Jadeja’s rest opens the door for a debutant
With Ravindra Jadeja rested for this match, India’s search for a longer-term replacement has effectively started. The two names in the frame are Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar, both 23-year-old left-arm spinners who can also contribute as batters and have produced consistent domestic performances.
Dubey came into wider notice after taking 69 wickets during Vidarbha’s title-winning 2024-25 Ranji Trophy run. His approach is built around precision and control, and he has also recorded nine half-centuries in first-class cricket.
Suthar has been on the selection radar for longer. The Rajasthan spinner, who comes from Sri Ganganagar, has been a regular presence in India A squads. He enjoyed a major breakthrough in 2022-23, taking 90 wickets across formats. That season also saw him emerge as Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, with 39 wickets from six matches. Before that, he had taken 14 wickets in seven Under-25 one-day games and 37 wickets in the CK Nayudu Trophy.
Like Dubey, Suthar brings value with the bat as well, having scored a first-class century and six fifties.
Ten Doeschate offered a glimpse into the likely combinations. He said he expects Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar to play, and that after that, one of the two younger spinners—Dubey or Suthar—could be given an opportunity. He also highlighted that the two new prospects can bat, which could influence the balance of the XI.
In the end, the No. 3 decision and Jadeja’s understudy are two of the remaining uncertainties within India’s playing group. The management appears keen to resolve both quickly. Whether it is Padikkal or Sudharsan at the first drop, and whether Dubey or Suthar becomes the third-spin option, the Afghanistan Test could well serve as the starting point for India’s next generation in roles that are clearly in focus.
