Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal to Stay Over in Australia as India's Backup Batters

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devdutt Padikkal, who are key players from the recent India A series in Australia are more likely to stay back as backup options for the Indian team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A five-match Test series, starting on November 22 at Perth's Optus Stadium, has already been shrouded by injuries to crucial players. KL Rahul suffered an injury on November 15, and Shubman Gill is reportedly doubtful for the first Test because of a thumb injury, which is added injury to India's selection concerns.

Rituraj and Devdutt Set as Backups for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The Indian selectors are contemplating keeping Gaikwad and Padikkal here in Australia to face any contingencies arising in the first half of the tour, believes a report by *Cricbuzz*. Gaikwad, despite the modest performances he staged in the unofficial Tests against Australia A in Mackay and Melbourne, showed promise in an intra-squad game at Perth's WACA Stadium. During the match, he cracked four sixes, including two off veteran spinner R. Ashwin, underlining the fact that he can adapt to Australian conditions.

Padikkal, who has just begun his Test career in March 2024, also showed a lot of guts and technique. In the same intra-squad match, he batted fearlessly against India's top pacers including Jasprit Bumrah. With his past experience and this ability to hold on to the innings, Padikkal is a quality reserve option.

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Apart from all this, pacer Mohammed Shami is likely to arrive in Australia to join the Indian team. Having demonstrated his fitness by bowling more than 40 overs in a Ranji Trophy match and taking seven wickets during the course of match, Shami is ready to add to the Indian bowling attack. And he'll be traveling with India's captain Rohit Sharma. Incidentally, the injuries to Gaikwad and Padikkal also arrive as plausible standbys, and this mirrors the pluses of proactive selectors in building a very deep team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.