Is Devdutt Padikkal's Emergence An Alarming Sign For Shreyas Iyer?

Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as Iyer's competitor [X]Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as Iyer's competitor [X]

Stylish Indian batter Shreyas Iyer sustained his torrid run in the Duleep Trophy as he was dismissed for a seven-ball duck in India D's ongoing clash against India A. Batting at three, Iyer played six dot balls before throwing his wicket away with a rash shot in this crucial encounter. 

The ongoing Duleep Trophy tournament hasn't been worth remembering for Iyer. The Mumbaikar has found it tough to showcase his batting mettle on challenging decks, letting his team down on multiple occasions. In a tournament where he was expected to make his bat do the talking, Iyer has managed only 63 runs at an abysmal average of 21. 

Iyer's dismal form dates back to India's Sri Lanka tour, where his persistent struggles led to the Men in Blue's horrendous outing in the ODI leg. However, besides his own batting form, a factor that might delay Iyer's return to national colours is the emergence of Devdutt Padikkal as a reliable middle-order batter. 

Devdutt Padikkal's Recent Form

Criterion
Data
Innings3
Runs148
Average49.33
50s/100s2/0

(Devdutt Padikkal's performance in Duleep Trophy 2024)

Hailed for his ability to score all around the park, Devdutt Padikkal has oozed his class with the bat in the Duleep Trophy. The Karnataka batter has emerged as one of the key players for India D, playing some valiant knocks in the middle order. 

Padikkal had a disastrous start to the season, being dismissed by Vijaykumar Vyshak for a duck in India D's inaugural match against the C team. However, he bounced back remarkably, slamming a valiant fifty in the second innings, albeit in a losing cause. 

He sustained his purple patch in the competition, scoring another glorious half-century under pressure and bailing India D out of trouble following initial jitters. The knock spoke volumes for not only his stroke play but also his ability to hold his nerves in crunch moments. 

Why Is Padikkal's Rise A Concern For Shreyas Iyer?

Considering India's vast talent pool, seeing several deserving names fighting for limited spots in the Test XI isn't surprising. For the time being, skipper Rohit Sharma is a certain starter alongside Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, which pretty much sorts out India's top order. 

The comeback of Rishabh Pant has booked a slot for the explosive keeper-batter, while KL Rahul keeps getting prioritised for his impressive turnaround in Test cricket. So, practically, there's no real vacancy in India's first-choice Test XI. However, if we shift the discussion to the backup batters, Padikkal seems to be gradually edging out Iyer in his performances. 

On his debut Test series, Padikkal showcased his temperament, scoring a flamboyant fifty against a rampant English attack in Dharamsala. On the contrary, Iyer fell prey to England's wily spinners, managing only 104 runs across four innings. Thus, technically, Iyer's rough patch has coincided with Padikkal's emergence and could prompt India to keep the southpaw ahead of the former in the pecking order.