![Sai Sudharsan vs Devdutt Padikkal [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763368418651_Sudharsan_vs_Padikkal.jpg?type=hq)
Sai Sudharsan vs Devdutt Padikkal [Source: AFP]
India captain Shubman Gill has been released from the Kolkata hospital, but things still don’t look good for him ahead of the second and final Test match in Guwahati. Gill suffered a neck spasm while batting in the first innings of the opening Test against South Africa.
Gill hit a boundary off the first ball he faced, but soon after, he felt sharp pain in his neck. The physio had to come onto the field, and Gill eventually walked off for treatment. By the end of Day 2, he was taken to the hospital for further tests.
However, India lost the first Test match at Eden Gardens by 30 runs. Now, the big worry now is Gill’s availability. Early signs suggest he is likely to miss the second Test.
If that happens, India will need a replacement at the top of the order, and two names stand out: Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal. Let’s take a simple look at both of them and what they bring to the table.
Sai Sudharsan
Notably, Sai Sudharsan could be the frontrunner to take Gill’s spot in the second Test. Although he has played only 5 Test matches so far, scoring 273 runs at an average of 30.33, he has shown flashes of strong potential. His performances haven’t been extraordinary yet, but they have been steady and encouraging.
Where Sudharsan really stands out is in first-class cricket. At just 24 years old, he already has impressive numbers: 2,562 runs in 38 matches, including 8 centuries and 9 fifties. These stats show that he’s capable of playing long, mature innings.
| Criteria | Stats |
| Inns | 38 |
| Runs | 2562 |
| Average | 39.41 |
| SR | 53.23 |
[Sai Sudharsan's First Class stats]
Recently, Sudharsan did well in the home series against West Indies, scoring 133 runs in two matches, including a solid fifty. Before that, he performed well in the Australia A vs India A games.
However, his only drawback is his latest performance against South Africa A, where he managed just 84 runs in four innings. Still, considering his overall form and technique, he remains a strong candidate to fill in for Gill.
Devdutt Padikkal
Devdutt Padikkal is another talented left-handed batter in the race. He made his Test debut against England in early 2024 but has played only two Test matches so far. With 90 runs from those games, including one fifty, Padikkal has not had enough opportunities to fully show what he can do.
However, like Sudharsan, his first-class record is impressive. Padikkal has scored 3,199 runs across 82 innings, with 7 centuries and 19 fifties, averaging a healthy 41.01.
The Karnataka batter also had a good outing in the recent Ranji Trophy Elite round, scoring 96 against Saurashtra. However, his performances against South Africa A were not great, where he scored only 40 runs in two matches.
Final Verdict
Choosing between Sudharsan and Padikkal won’t be easy for India. In the first Test, when Gill got injured, Washington Sundar was promoted to bat at No. 3. If India sticks with that idea, they might prefer Padikkal to slot in at No. 4. But if the team wants a solid No. 3, Sudharsan becomes the natural choice.
Both players are young and short on Test experience, but each has strong first-class performances behind them. In the end, the decision will depend on what team combination India wants for the second Test.
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