Padikkal, Sudharsan mount India's mega comeback, heat up No.3 race

Devdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan rescued India A after another top-order collapse against New Zealand A in Lincoln, helping the visitors take a 284-run lead by the end of Day 3. Padikkal's 199 and Sudharsan's 91 have also intensified the competition for India's No.3 spot.Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal mount India's comeback in Lincon. (PTI/AP Photo)New Delhi,Oct 26, 2026 13:42 ISTDevdutt Padikkal and Sai Sudharsan rescued India A from another top-order collapse to turn the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Lincoln on its head. After losing KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal inside the first five overs of their second innings, India desperately needed a fightback from their batters.Padikkal struck a sensational 199 and Sudharsan scored 91 to arrest the slide, helping India A reach 488 for 8 and take a commanding 284-run lead by the end of Day 3. Their partnership also added an interesting dimension to the competition for India's No.3 spot in Test cricket.Padikkal, who stepped into the Indian team after Sudharsan was injured during the Test series against Sri Lanka, made the most of his opportunity with two centuries in two Test matches. He had also scored a hundred in the tour game ahead of that series.His latest innings, played after India A had lost two early wickets for the second time in the match, will only strengthen his case for a place in the Test side. Sudharsan, meanwhile, reminded the selectors of his own ability, providing the stability that allowed Padikkal to attack and helping India A recover from a precarious position to take control of the match. PADIKKAL-SUDHARSAN'S PARTNERSHIPIndia A's second-innings recovery came after the top order had failed twice in the match. The visitors were first dismissed for just 113, allowing New Zealand A to take a 204-run first-innings lead after scoring 317. When India A returned to bat, the innings threatened to unravel again, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed inside the first five overs on Day 2.Jaiswal was caught off a bouncer, while Rahul was bowled after playing a delivery that trickled towards his stumps. With India A once again in trouble, Padikkal and Sudharsan were left to rebuild the innings, this time with the added pressure of a substantial deficit to overcome. Resuming Day 3 on 56 not out, Padikkal continued where he had left off, while Sudharsan resumed on 39. The two left-handers settled into a steady rhythm despite strong winds across the ground, punishing loose deliveries and keeping the scoreboard moving.Padikkal was the more aggressive of the pair. He reached his 12th first-class century with a six off Jayden Lennox and continued to put pressure on the New Zealand A attack. Sudharsan, meanwhile, provided stability at the other end as their partnership crossed 200 runs and took India A into the lead.The 215-run stand eventually ended when Sudharsan was dismissed for 91, falling short of a century after top-edging a short delivery to the fielder behind square.Padikkal continued to attack alongside Yash Rathod, with the pair adding 142 runs off 142 balls. Rathod scored 66 before falling after Tea, while Padikkal was dismissed for 199 in controversial circumstances, adjudged caught behind down the leg side off Zak Gibson. The left-hander appeared unhappy with the decision and gestured to the umpire that there had been a significant gap between his bat and the ball.His innings came off 248 deliveries and included 24 boundaries and three sixes. India A did not let his departure halt their progress, with Washington Sundar unbeaten on 51 at stumps. From 113 all out in their first innings, the visitors had surged to 488 for 8, building a 284-run lead and putting New Zealand A under pressure heading into the final day.DOES PADIKKAL HOLD THE EDGE?Padikkal's case rests on the way he seized his opportunity in the Indian Test team. He was not originally part of India's first-team plans for the Sri Lanka series, but Sudharsan's injury opened the door for him. The Karnataka batter responded with centuries in both Test matches he played, making a strong case for himself in the middle order.He had also scored a hundred in the tour game before the Test series, showing that his form was not restricted to the international matches. His performances against Sri Lanka demonstrated his ability to handle spin, and his innings of 199 against New Zealand A has offered further evidence of his adaptability against pace.The conditions in Lincoln were far from straightforward, with strong winds affecting the day's play and New Zealand A looking to exploit India's early vulnerability. Padikkal's ability to take the attack to the bowlers, reach a century with a six and keep scoring at a brisk rate made his innings particularly significant.He was dismissed just one run short of a double century, but the larger point was the scale of his contribution. After India A had been bowled out for 113 and lost two early wickets again, Padikkal gave the innings the substance it needed and put his team in a position to push for victory.His recent record in red-ball cricket makes him a strong contender for the No.3 spot when India return to Test action.- Ends