India’s newly recruited number three batter Devdutt Padikkal said the batting position doesn’t matter to him. Padikkal scored a total of 328 runs in three innings of the series against Sri Lanka at an average of 109.33 and was awarded Player of the Series. The left-hander scored two centuries in as many Test matches and batted at the top of his game.

Padikkal was able to grab his chance with both hands in the absence of injured Sai Sudharsan, who was ruled out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to a toe injury. The Karnataka batter is now expected to be India’s number three, and he is likely to get a long run at one drop.

“Definitely, I was looking forward to it. Obviously, those opportunities don’t come very easily. It takes a lot of hard work to make sure that you are continuing to improve yourself and waiting for that opportunity. I had to make sure that I was ready whenever I got it,” Padikkal said on JioStar. 

“The fact that I was told at the start of the series that I was going to be playing was really exciting, and I felt like, personally, I was at the best stage of my career in terms of the way I was batting, so I was really looking forward to it,” he added.

The Karnataka batter said he wants to contribute to the team’s success and the batting position doesn’t matter.

“At the end of the day, it’s about going out there and batting. It doesn’t matter what position I’m batting at; I’m trying to contribute to the side,” Padikkal said. 

“Yes, obviously, there have been great players who have played at number three for India over the years, and I’m sure there’ll be a lot more scrutiny on me and a lot more comparisons made. But at the end of the day, I’m going out there and just playing my cricket, and as long as I’m enjoying that, I think everything will fall into place,” he added.

Padikkal will be seen in action in the Test series against New Zealand.