In a rare event, two distinct Indian teams will visit two different nations simultaneously. One Indian team with the seniors is getting ready for the Test series against England while one team, generally loaded up with newbies and youngsters, will fight it out for the ODI and T20I series in Sri Lanka. 

However the majority of the first-team players and seniors will be absent from the side which will take on the Sri Lankans, Dravid and Co are spoilt for decisions and it says a ton regarding India’s talent reserves. 

The opening conundrum

Just a passing look at the squad will give you a thought of the number of top-request batsmen in the line-up, to be specific Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Rana, Suryakumar Yadav.

In all probability Dhawan will open the batting, but who will partner him at the other end?

However, it might come down to Shaw vs Padikkal.

Shaw likewise scored a double century in the tournament. After a dull IPL 2020 and getting dropped after the first Test against Australia in Adelaide, it was a resonating answer from the young person. He conveyed that confidence in IPL 2021 with three-fifty plus scores and an average of 38.50 from eight matches at a striking pace of 166.48. Simultaneously, he set the standard of scoring the most runs in a single edition throughout the entire history of the tournament. 

Devdutt Padikkal, then again, has been riding the peak of a wave in his career. His IPL performance has impelled him into the spotlight. He scored his maiden century against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. He was RCB’s highest run-getter with 473 runs from 15 matches in the 2020 IPL. 

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RCB captain Kohli showered high praise on Padikkal after that century against RR saying that he is a “great talent, great one to look forward to in the future.”

What might tilt the balance in Shaw’s future is the fact that with Dhawan opening, he brings that left-right combination into play. Though he hasn’t been an integral part of white-ball cricket for India, there is a good chance he might get the nod which might help him revive his India career.

Who bats at No 3?

Again there are various choices for India.

Suryakumar Yadav has at last torn the selection entryway open in style after a significant wait. He got going in a blistering style in the home series against England, with a 31-ball 57 in Ahmedabad in his debut international innings. He’s been a predictable run-getter in the homegrown field for Mumbai and for Mumbai Indians in the IPL throughout the previous few years. His talent for switching gears freely and his personality have stuck out. What’s more, he is perhaps the best player in the spin. This makes him an alluring possibility for the middle overs and a total bundle in the bigger plan of things. 

There is Manish Pandey as well who is looking to set his stop-start career in motion and can be considered as an option at No 3. He’s had some success at No 3 playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. 

Then there is Nitish Rana as well as Kishan who can slot into that role.

A lot will depend on the team combination. If India decides to go in with an extra batter, then Suryakumar might slot into the No 4 position with Pandey taking the No 5 and either Rana or Kishan slotting in at 3. If India opts for an extra all-rounder then Suryakumar and Pandey may juggle between 3 and four.

A ton will rely upon the team blend. In the event that India chooses to go in with an extra batter, Suryakumar may space into the No 4 position with Pandey taking the No 5 and either Rana or Kishan slotting in at 3. On the off chance that India settles on an additional all-rounder, Suryakumar and Pandey may shuffle somewhere in the range of 3 and 4th position.