Revealed: Who will bat at 3 for India in IND vs AFG one-off Test?
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India and Afghanistan will lock horns in one-off Test from June 6 in New Chandigarh.
The one-off Test between India and Afghanistan is all set to begin from June 6 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. This marks the second time that India will meet Afghanistan in the red-ball format, having played earlier in 2018.
The squad for this one-off Test was announced on May 19. Three players, namely Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey, received their maiden Test call-ups. Devdutt Padikkal earned a recall to the side after a phenomenal domestic season.
There were several reports which claimed that Devdutt Padikkal will be the new number three for India in Tests, especially after struggles of batters to perform at this position. India tried as many as three batters in that position since England tour but none of them made a mark.
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With both Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal in the squad, one of the common questions among fans has been about who will take the number three slot. Sudharsan debuted for India in Tests in the 2025 England series and has played 6 matches, averaging 27. His highest score came against West Indies when he made 87.
On the other hand, Padikkal debuted for India in the Test against England in 2024 at home. He has batted at no.3 and 4 once each. However, he did not get a chance after the Border Gavaskar trophy 2024-25. He had a remarkable domestic season with the bat scoring 532 runs at an average of 66.5 in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 cycle, leading his team to the final.
With IND vs AFG Test around the corner, head coach Gautam Gambhir ended the debate and confirmed that it will be Sai Sudharsan, who will take number three spot. Speaking to reporters, he said:
“Sai Sudharsan has not got a fair chance. He played in England, we will give him a longer rope”
The Test against Afghanistan is not a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. However, both teams would be keen to play their best game and build on for the upcoming big assignments.
Who will play at no.3 for India in the test against Afghanistan?
Gautam Gambhir has confirmed that they intend to give Sai Sudharsan a long rope and a fair chance.
When will the India vs Afghanistan Test start?
The one-off Test will start from 6th June
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Cricket runs in the blood of Indians — and that’s something she truly believes in. A law student with a lifelong connection to the game, she has followed cricket passionately since his school days. Like countless young fans, she first experienced the sport on the field before deepening his understanding through constant watching, reading, and conversations around the game. Writing became a natural extension of that passion, bringing a “Pavilion Perspective” to his work — capturing how fans experience matches through their own lens.