Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Devdutt Padikkal as a long-term option for India’s number three spot in Test cricket, following the batter’s impressive outing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur on Thursday. Padikkal played a fluent knock of 39 off 27 deliveries, striking seven boundaries while batting at number three. His composed innings once again underlined his growing maturity and adaptability in the middle order, qualities Ashwin believes make him an ideal candidate for India’s Test set-up. India have experimented with several players at number three in recent years, including Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, but neither has fully cemented the role. Padikkal, meanwhile, has already featured in two Tests for India in 2024, scoring 90 runs across three innings while batting at numbers three and four. “I want Devdutt Padikkal to be India’s No. 3 in Test cricket. He has batted so well, and he deserves to be an incumbent Test player for India. He should be given a long-term chance,” R Ashwin was quoted as saying on his YouTube channel. Dinesh Karthik’s Imprint Ashwin also praised the left-hander’s technical growth against spin bowling and compared aspects of his game to former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. “If you look at his sixes, it is all about the timing. When I see his batting, I feel that there is a little bit of Dinesh Karthik’s imprint. He is very proactive against spinners. He was there with me in RR, and at the time, he used to play spinners on the back foot. Now, he plays the reverse sweep and sweep. He also has the feet usage,” he added. IPL 2026 | Schedule | Results | Orange Cap | Purple Cap Ashwin further reflected on how IPL performances can influence national selection debates. “Padikkal was the front runner in the race for the Test cricket team, but Sai Sudharsan surpassed him. Sudharsan is also a good player, but he batted ahead of Padikkal. How did he get that opportunity? Because he was the Orange Cap holder in IPL. Whether it is right or wrong, if you perform in IPL along with First-Class cricket, your selection becomes much easier. But I am happy, Padikkal’s talent and ability is coming out this season,” Ashwin concluded.