India’s preparations for the Sri Lanka Test series have taken a sharp turn. Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the two-Test tour because of a toe stress fracture, removing one of the most talked-about options for the crucial No. 3 position. On the same day, Devdutt Padikkal answered the selection question in the best way possible: with an unbeaten 142 in India’s warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI.
The timing makes the development even more important. India are using the Colombo fixture to settle combinations before the Tests begin, but injuries to Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have created a moving target for the team management. Padikkal’s controlled, fluent innings has now given the selectors a very strong alternative.
Sai Sudharsan injury changes India’s Test plans
Sudharsan’s toe stress fracture means he will not be available for the Sri Lanka Test series. The left-hander had been pushing hard for a place in India’s red-ball plans after a strong run of performances and growing confidence around his ability to handle international bowling.
For India, the concern is not simply replacing one batter. Sudharsan offered a left-handed presence, a compact technique and the kind of top-order patience that can be valuable in Sri Lankan conditions. His absence also reduces the margin for error if another player is not fully fit before the opening Test.
The injury will naturally bring attention back to India’s workload management. A toe problem can be especially frustrating for a batter because it affects movement, balance and the ability to transfer weight through a shot. India will want Sudharsan back only when he is properly ready rather than risk turning a short-term setback into a longer layoff.
Devdutt Padikkal makes a case with unbeaten 142
Padikkal could hardly have timed his statement better. Batting at No. 3, he finished the day unbeaten on 142 as India reached 357/6, just six runs behind Sri Lanka Cricket XI’s declared 363/8. His innings combined patience with enough authority to keep the scoreboard moving, exactly what India need from a top-order batter in a Test build-up.
Padikkal initially retired hurt after reaching 103, but he returned later and moved smoothly into the 140s. That second spell at the crease was important because it showed concentration and composure after a long break. He did not throw away the opportunity, instead continuing to occupy the crease and punish loose bowling.
His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja was another positive. Jadeja made 63 before retiring hurt, while Manav Suthar contributed a patient 41. At the other end, Gurnoor Brar added late energy with an unbeaten 36 from only 18 balls, giving India momentum at the close.
Shubman Gill fitness remains another India talking point
India’s selection puzzle is not limited to Sudharsan. Shubman Gill missed a second day of the warm-up while recovering from an impact injury to his right ring finger. He was seen on the dressing-room balcony without heavy strapping, which offers some encouragement, but his availability and batting position will remain closely watched.
KL Rahul also made a useful contribution with 40, adding 96 for the second wicket with Padikkal after Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early. Rahul’s experience gives India flexibility, particularly if the team wants a dependable option who can adapt to different roles in the top order.
What could India’s No. 3 combination look like?
If Gill is fit, India have several ways to balance the top six. Padikkal’s warm-up hundred makes him the obvious beneficiary of Sudharsan’s absence, while Rahul can provide stability around the opening combination. The final decision may depend on Gill’s recovery, pitch conditions and whether India want extra left-right variety.
Padikkal’s advantage is that he has now produced runs when the opportunity mattered. A warm-up match is not the same as a Test, but 142 not out in Colombo is still a meaningful marker. It gives the team management evidence rather than merely potential, and it puts pressure on every other contender to respond.
Why this matters before the Sri Lanka Tests
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the uncertainty around India’s batting order, even though the visitors remain well equipped. The hosts’ bowlers already tested India early, with Jaiswal dismissed in the second over, but India recovered through partnerships and disciplined batting from Padikkal and Jadeja.
The next step is to convert this promising warm-up performance into a settled Test plan. India need clarity on fitness, roles and the batting order before the first Test. Sudharsan’s injury is a setback, but Padikkal has ensured the conversation is not only about who India have lost. It is also about the opportunity he has seized.
What do you think? Should Devdutt Padikkal walk straight into India’s XI at No. 3 for the Sri Lanka Tests, or should the team wait for another option to recover? Share your predicted India playing XI in the comments.
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