Devdutt Padikkal Matches Cheteshwar Pujara’s Feat As India Solve No. 3 Dilemma

Devdutt Padikkal after century in Colombo (L) & Cheteshwar Pujara (Source: AFP Photos)

Devdutt Padikkal kept on doing wonders in Sri Lanka, as he smashed back-to-back centuries in the two-match Test series for India. In the process, he reminded fans of what was achieved by Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s last reliable No. 3 in Tests since Rahul Dravid.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018/19, Cheteshwar Pujara made 106 in Melbourne and followed it with 193 in Sydney in back-to-back Test matches. That was the last time India’s No. 3 batter scored consecutive Test centuries until Padikkal achieved the feat on Sunday.

Devdutt Padikkal Emerges As India’s Answer To No. 3 Puzzle

India had issues with No. 3 in Tests even when Pujara was active at the fag end of his career. As a result, he could not play a single Test match for the country between June 2023 and August 2025 before finally announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket.

However, the way Devdutt Padikkal, the 26-year-old, has been performing for the country suggests they have finally found someone they were desperately looking for to stabilise their batting order.

Also Read: Devdutt Padikkal Makes 1st Comment On Sai Sudharsan After Scoring Century In His Absence

Padikkal has now scored 328 runs in three innings in Sri Lanka, with the scores reading 167*, 44 and now 117. He also has a strike rate of 65.86 in the ongoing series, showing the world that he is here to stay.

How Cheteshwar Pujara Made India’s No. 3 Spot His Own

Rahul Dravid, India’s most reliable No. 3 of all time, averaged 52.63 in Tests, having made 13265 runs in 163 matches. Overall, only Sachin Tendulkar has more Test runs for India than Dravid in the all-time list.

Pujara, on the other hand, finished his Test career with an average of 43.60, courtesy of aggregating 7195 runs in 103 Tests.

Out of his 176 innings, he batted at No. 3 94 times. There, he made 6529 runs and had 18 centuries and 32 half-centuries, averaging 44.41.

Had Pujara not struggled with form in his last few years, he would have finished very close to Dravid, if only consistency had remained intact.

[Cheteshwar Pujara Test Stats]

Who Gets The Axe If Padikkal Keeps India’s No. 3 Spot?

As there is no shortage of players in the pool in India, at least in terms of batters, Padikkal’s rise brings trouble to Sai Sudharsan, who was projected to be India’s problem solver for No. 3 in Test cricket along with Padikkal.

However, an unfortunate injury ruled him out of the India vs Sri Lanka Tests, and it became a blessing in disguise for Padikkal, who was already in impeccable form in India’s domestic circuit across all formats.

Now, with Sudharsan’s injury, don’t be surprised if he has to play at a different position, as Padikkal is supposed to be India’s No. 3 for a long time.

Also Read: Why Rishabh Pant Retired Hurt In The Middle Of IND vs SL 2nd Test?ð