India's search for Test No.3 continues in post-Pujara era

In cricket, the number-three batter has a very important and hard job.

This player must come in early, when the ball is still new and tricky to face.

For many years, India had two great players in this spot, Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.

But Pujara stopped playing in 2023, and India has struggled to replace him.

Since then, the team has tried many different batters, but no one has made the job their own for long.

Now a player named Devdutt Padikkal will get his chance, because the last pick, Sai Sudharsan, got hurt and cannot play.

India will play a Test match in Galle, Sri Lanka, this week.

Other countries are also finding this position hard to fill.

India is now looking for someone calm and patient, not just someone who scores runs fast.