I got the message the previous night saying that there was a possibility I could be playing: Devdutt Padikkal

In a surprising turn of events, left-hander batter Devdutt Padikkal found himself making his Test debut for India in the ongoing match against England in Dharamsala. The 23-year-old's journey to the Test arena was far from smooth, as uncertainties loomed over his selection.

Padikkal revealed that the team management had dropped him a message, hinting at the possibility of his inclusion in the Dharamsala Test. After Day 2, Padikkal shared his feelings about the build-up to his debut.

"I wouldn't say it is great because you want time to prepare mentally, to be honest, uh, not being sure that if you are playing or not playing, it's a bit of a dilemma, but at the same time, it's a special feeling. I got the message the previous night saying that there was a possibility I could be playing this game," Padikkal said speaking with Sports 18.

Despite the nerve-wracking uncertainty, Padikkal managed to showcase his skills on the field, replacing Rajat Patidar due to an injury. In his reflections on the debut, he expressed enjoyment in batting with Sarfaraz Khan, describing their partnership as light-hearted and comfortable.

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"Always fun to bat with Sarfaraz Khan. He is a character, we just kept it light and made each other comfortable," Padikkal told reporters after end of play on Day 2.

Coming to the match, the morning session saw Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill dominating, but Ben Stokes and James Anderson struck back for England. With the team needing a strong partnership, Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan delivered, absorbing the pressure and guiding India to a commanding position.

Padikkal left an indelible mark on his debut, contributing a notable 65 runs as India reached 473/8 at Stumps with a substantial lead of 255 runs. Looking ahead to Day Three, the duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah aims to frustrate the visitors further, adding to England's woes in what promises to be an exciting Test match in Dharamsala.