India Test takeaways: Padikkal, Suthar shine; bowling concerns
India arrived in Sri Lanka three weeks ago with several questions surrounding its Test team but Devdutt Padikkal’s assured batting at number three is the biggest gain, while Manav Suthar has made a strong case to take over the baton from Ravindra Jadeja as the team’s lead Test spinner for the next decade.
The management may also be delighted to see the efforts of batters, who copped fair bit of flak for their inability to tackle spin against New Zealand and South Africa at home, against Sri Lankan tweakers.
Padikkal was at the forefront of India’s charge against spinners.
The Sri Lankan batters resorted to sweep and its varieties to nullify Indian spinners in the series, but Padikkal used a different method - astute back foot play and precise footwork.
His early coach Mohammed Naseeruddin threw light into the Karnataka batter’s approach.
“We were working in that area before the series. If you stay in the crease, then it is tough to play against spinners. So, we were training to get as close to the ball as possible, or come out and drive,” Naseeruddin told PTI.
That diligence brought the desired result in the two-match series as Padikkal was adjudged player of the series for his 328 runs across three innings at an average of 109.33. It included two hundreds as well.
It seems that Padikkal has now put to bed the question on the best choice for the No. 3 slot for the foreseeable future, even when B Sai Sudharsan returns from his injury.
“If he continues to bat like this, then we will certainly give him (No. 3 slot),” skipper Shubhman Gill said in half-jest during the post-match press conference on Thursday.
Dhurv Jurel offered India a technical detour in terms of tactical flexibility down the order. Originally a wicketkeeper-batter, Jurel now plays as a specialist batter at number 6 behind Rishabh Pant.
Jurel has this enviable ability to accelerate seamlessly from deep hibernation or calmly navigate through the rough seas.
In Galle, he made a quick 51 to build on Padikkal’s hundred and at the Sinhalese Sports Club, the 25-year-old first supported an aggressive Pant before moving on to get a hundred for himself.
Then there is this comfort factor against pacers and spinners alike. During his hundred in the second Test here, Jurel faced 101 balls from spinners and milked 56 runs.
The pacers tried to bounce him out but shelved that ploy after bowling just seven bumpers, as Jurel peeled 15 runs off those deliveries. Now, he is India’s chameleon at No. 6, shape-shifting as per conditions and situations.
