Devdutt Padikkal has perhaps shown Gautam Gambhir and the Indian selectors a mirror. If you give a talented and deserving player an opportunity, just look at the reward you can get.
There has been a perception among a section of fans that RCB players are not getting the same backing under the current Indian team management. Whether that perception is right or wrong, Padikkal’s performances have certainly raised questions about selection preferences.
India were struggling to solve the No. 3 puzzle. Different options were tried, Sai Sudharsan was preferred, but then an injury opened the door for Padikkal.
And what did Padikkal do?
He smashed back-to-back Test centuries against Sri Lanka.
That should tell Gambhir and the selectors something very simple — leave preferences aside and back players who are performing.
Gautam Gambhir Should Learn From Devdutt Padikkal
India had been searching for an answer at No. 3 for quite some time.
Shubman Gill was given several innings at the position before India eventually looked elsewhere. Then came Sai Sudharsan, who received the backing of the team management but could not score a Test century during his opportunities.
Padikkal, meanwhile, had been piling up runs in domestic cricket.
Eventually, his performances became too difficult for the selectors to ignore.
Still, Sudharsan appeared to be the preferred option at No. 3. But his injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise for India because Padikkal finally got his opportunity.
And he didn’t waste it.
Back-to-back Test hundreds against Sri Lanka have now completely changed the discussion.
Padikkal has shown that when a deserving player gets an opportunity, performances can answer every selection question.
Is There Really an RCB Bias in Team India Selection?
This is where the questions around RCB players will continue to come.
There is a perception among some fans that players connected with Gujarat have received considerable backing in the current setup, while deserving RCB players have found opportunities harder to get.
I am not saying that being an RCB player automatically means someone should play for India.
That would make no sense.
But if an RCB player is performing consistently, why should his franchise association matter at all?
Padikkal’s case has made this discussion even stronger.
The team management appeared to prefer Sudharsan, but once Padikkal got his opportunity, his bat did all the talking.
So, Gambhir and the selectors should take the lesson from Padikkal and look at performances first.
And if we are doing that, two more RCB names deserve discussion — Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rajat Patidar.
Why Is Bhuvneshwar Kumar Not in the World Cup 2027 Discussion?
If India are preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup, why is Bhuvneshwar Kumar completely out of the picture?
This is something I don’t understand.
If Bhuvneshwar is fit, playing regularly and taking wickets, why should his age alone close the door on an India comeback?
India are preparing for the World Cup. They are not preparing a team only for 2031.
The 2027 World Cup will be played in southern Africa, and those conditions make Bhuvneshwar’s case even more interesting.
We all know what he can do when there is movement available.
Give Bhuvneshwar conditions where the ball swings, and he can still make life extremely difficult for batters.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar Could Be Crucial in South African Conditions
This is exactly why I believe India should at least consider Bhuvneshwar Kumar for World Cup 2027.
South African conditions can offer assistance to seam and swing bowlers. Bhuvneshwar has spent years mastering the art of moving the new ball.
Why completely shut the door on that experience?
Yes, India need to develop younger fast bowlers. Nobody is arguing against that.
Prasidh Krishna and other younger options deserve their opportunities as well. But India should not become so obsessed with building for the future that they ignore an experienced bowler who could potentially help them win a World Cup.
If Bhuvneshwar remains fit and continues taking wickets, select him on merit.
For me, age should not be the deciding factor.
Performance and fitness should be.
What Exactly Has Rajat Patidar Done Wrong?
And then comes Rajat Patidar.
What exactly is his fault?
Is being the RCB captain working against him?
Again, I am asking this as a selection question because India have continued to look at different batting options, while Patidar has repeatedly shown that he can perform under pressure.
Look at what he has done for RCB.
Pressure situations, knockout-type encounters, do-or-die matches — Patidar has repeatedly shown the temperament to stand there and play his shots.
He has also handled the pressure that comes with leading a franchise like RCB.
So why is he not even getting a proper look?
Rajat Patidar Deserves Another Chance for India
I can understand the argument in ODI cricket.
India’s batting department is packed, competition is extremely tough and finding a position for Patidar there is not straightforward.
Fair enough.
But what about T20 cricket?
India have tried and continue to look at different players. If others can get opportunities, why can’t Patidar?
His ability against spin can be extremely useful in the middle overs. He can attack, he has experience, and he has shown that pressure does not easily affect his natural game.
At the very least, Patidar deserves to be in the conversation.
Padikkal Has Already Exposed the Danger of Selection Preferences
This is why I keep coming back to Devdutt Padikkal.
The team management appeared to have its preferred option in Sai Sudharsan.
Then Sudharsan got injured.
Padikkal came in.
And look at the result.
Back-to-back Test centuries.
Imagine if Sudharsan had not been injured and Padikkal had continued sitting outside. India might never have seen these performances from him on this Sri Lanka tour.
Look at the rest of India’s scorecards and you can understand how important Padikkal’s runs have been.
That is why selection should not become about liking one player more than another.
Cricket eventually exposes everything.
If a player is good enough and gets an opportunity, he can force the selectors to change their plans.
Padikkal has done exactly that.