Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak impressed by Devdutt Padikkal’s innings
Colombo: India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak praised left-handed top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal for his magnificent unbeaten knock of 142 runs during the team’s six-wicket victory over the Sri Lanka Cricket XI in a three-day warm-up match, describing his batting as “really good.”
Padikkal hitting 18 boundaries during his innings comes as a huge relief for India regarding the number three spot, especially with B Sai Sudharsan sidelined due to a right big toe injury. “I think Devdutt batted really well. For me, Devdutt’s innings was really good,” Kotak said in a video for bcci.tv on Monday.
India chased down the target of 207 runs in the final session of the third day, gaining a valuable match under their belts ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka starting in Galle on August 15. Speaking about the match, Kotak noted that playing a game was far more beneficial than a standard practice routine.
“I think it was very good and beneficial because four days of net practice wouldn’t have yielded the same benefits as playing a practice match. The bowlers bowled with good intensity. We actually tried everyone out; even the bowlers got a chance to bat. All the bowlers got the necessary workload. So, it was excellent.”
With the exception of Aaqib Nabi, who bowled five overs, all specialist bowlers bowled approximately 18 to 20 overs during the match, while everyone—barring him and Prasidh Krishna—got an opportunity to bat. Kotak also highlighted the seamers’ hard work on a flat pitch and the lower-order sixes hit by Mohammed Siraj and Gurnoor Brar as major positives. He said, “The way Gurnoor bowled and our fast bowlers toiled on a pitch that offered nothing… overall, it was a very good practice match, but for me, Devdutt’s innings was also truly impressive.”
Meanwhile, after being selected as a replacement for Sudharsan, right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan joined the Indian team’s practice session at the NCC ground on Monday. All the batters attended the session, whereas among the fast bowlers, only Nabi showed up.
