Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has opined that Devdutt Padikkal’s performance in the Test series against Sri Lanka has shown the importance of playing in the domestic circuit. The left-hander scored 543 runs in six Ranji Trophy matches at an average of 60.33 in the previous season.
In the absence of injured Sai Sudharsan, Padikkal was able to grab his opportunity with both hands. The left-hander from Karnataka returned with scores of 167 and 44 in the opening Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle. Furthermore, he backed it with another impressive knock of 117 runs in the first innings of the ongoing second Test at Colombo.
Meanwhile, India earlier lost home Test series against New Zealand and South Africa as the batters failed to counter the opposition’s spin attack.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on Sony Sports, “Padikkal has shown us the kind of blunders India have made in the past. We didn’t realize that our batters and big stars had become like NRIs who play away from home so much that they lost touch playing on Indian pitches, where they grew up and excelled. Padikkal has shown the value of that. India blundered when they had all their star players just play outside India for four or five years, because of which none of the star players had any practice of playing on home pitches.”
“His attacking skills are also an extension of his defence. Many batters attack because they are not comfortable defending, mainly English batters. But this guy looks in command at all times on front and backfoot. His appetite for big runs also highlights the value of domestic cricket.”
Manjrekar added that Padikkal is the ideal batter at number three and India have missed a batter like him at one drop in the red-ball version.
“He hasn’t put a foot wrong in this series, and he is one for the long run. I want to see how he reacts to conditions in New Zealand. But if Padikkal had played against New Zealand at home in those three matches, batting at No.3, the story would have been completely different. He is one Indian batter who looks proficient against spin. India have missed a batter like him at No.3, and he just sets the right template for the batters that follow,” said Manjrekar (via the aforementioned source).
Sri Lanka ended the third day’s play at 265-8, trailing India’s score by 238 runs.
