Devdutt Padikkal credits Virat Kohli after scoring 199 runs against New Zealand A

Devdutt Padikkal credits Virat Kohli after scoring 199 runs against New Zealand A

Devdutt Padikkal’s 199 Puts Him in the Test Selection Conversation

Devdutt Padikkal has made a compelling case for a bigger role in India’s Test plans after producing a near-double-century for India A in New Zealand. The left-handed batter scored 199 in Lincoln, missing the landmark by just one run, but his innings may have carried significance beyond the scorecard: it showcased his patience, adaptability and ability to build a substantial innings in challenging conditions.

The performance arrives at a timely moment, with India preparing for a two-match Test series against New Zealand. Padikkal’s success overseas could prompt selectors to reconsider their options in the top order, particularly at No. 3. While one innings cannot guarantee a place in the senior side, it strengthens the case for a batter who has already shown that he can make an impact in Test cricket.

A response after a difficult spell

Padikkal’s recent progress is notable because it follows a less convincing period against Australia A at home. Those outings raised questions about how well he might adjust to demanding conditions outside India. New Zealand offered a different examination: cooler weather, unfamiliar surfaces and an opposition attack intent on testing his technique over long spells.

His 199 provided a strong response. Rather than relying only on quick scoring, Padikkal showed the concentration needed to occupy the crease and turn a start into a major contribution. For a prospective Test No. 3, that ability is essential. The position often requires a batter to enter early, absorb pressure and help stabilise the innings before accelerating when conditions allow.

The knock also offers useful context for selectors weighing recent form against longer-term potential. Padikkal has not yet accumulated a large body of international Test performances, so every substantial innings matters. A major score in New Zealand does not settle the selection debate, but it gives the left-hander a persuasive piece of evidence as India assess their batting combinations.

Virat Kohli’s example has shaped Padikkal’s approach

Padikkal has credited former Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate Virat Kohli with influencing his understanding of red-ball cricket. Rather than describing a single technical tip, he pointed to Kohli’s example across formats and levels of the game: the discipline, preparation and sustained commitment required to succeed in multi-day cricket.

“You do not necessarily have to ask him what it takes to succeed in red-ball cricket,” Padikkal said. “He has shown all of us what it takes through the way he played, and that is something I have learnt from.”

That observation reflects a broader truth about the development of young batters. Advice can be valuable, but watching an experienced player prepare, respond to difficult periods and maintain standards over a long career can be just as instructive. Kohli’s record for India and his performances in domestic cricket have offered Padikkal a practical model of what sustained excellence demands.

Padikkal’s own career has included a period when his form and place in domestic sides were less secure. His talent was widely recognised, but turning promise into consistent output required adjustments and persistent work away from the spotlight. His recent performances suggest that effort is beginning to translate into results across formats.

IPL momentum and a growing red-ball profile

Padikkal has also benefited from strong seasons in the Indian Premier League, where he has developed a more assertive approach at the crease. The IPL’s fast pace can sharpen a batter’s scoring options and decision-making, but success in the shortest format does not automatically guarantee success in Test cricket. Padikkal’s challenge has been to carry confidence into a game that rewards restraint as much as aggression.

His recent India A innings suggests he is learning to make that transition. The key is not simply to score quickly, but to choose when to attack, when to defend and how to remain focused through long periods at the crease. Those skills are especially important in New Zealand, where conditions can support seam bowling and reward disciplined batting.

For India, the timing is significant. The team’s top-order balance is always under review, and performances in overseas conditions can influence selection decisions. If Padikkal continues to score heavily, he could emerge as a serious option for the No. 3 position. Any selection prediction remains uncertain, however: the selectors will also consider the incumbent batters, the team’s preferred balance and the conditions expected for the Test series.

Test record shows promise, with room to build

Padikkal’s early Test numbers provide another reason for interest. In four Tests for India, he has scored 418 runs in six innings at an average of 69.66, including two centuries and a half-century. Both of his Test hundreds came against Sri Lanka, in Galle and Colombo, demonstrating that he has already shown an ability to convert opportunities at international level.

Those figures are encouraging, but they come from a small sample. The next step is to prove that he can reproduce his impact against different attacks and in varied conditions. His 199 for India A in New Zealand is therefore valuable not just because of the runs, but because it came in an environment closely connected to the challenge awaiting India’s Test batters.

Padikkal has also appeared in two T20 Internationals, both in July 2021. Whether he returns to India’s limited-overs plans is a separate question. His current case is strongest in the longer format, where his height, composure and capacity to bat for extended periods can be particularly useful. Consistent domestic and India A performances will likely determine whether that opportunity expands.

What comes next for Padikkal?

The near-miss at 199 will naturally attract attention, but the larger story is Padikkal’s progression. He has responded to earlier setbacks, drawn lessons from senior players such as Kohli and delivered a substantial innings in demanding overseas conditions. Those are encouraging signs for a batter seeking to establish himself in India’s Test setup.

Whether the selectors choose him for the New Zealand series will depend on the final squad and the team’s assessment of its top-order needs. Still, Padikkal has made the decision more difficult to ignore. If he can maintain this form and continue to demonstrate the patience required at No. 3, his 199 could become a defining step in his push for a regular place in India’s Test batting order.

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