Devdutt Padikkal fifth Indian to make Test debut in series against England

NEW DELHI: India batter Devdutt Padikkal earned his maiden Test cap in the fifth and final Test match against England at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday. Padikkal's debut marks the fifth instance of a debutant for India in the ongoing series, as he replaced the injured Rajat Patidar, who suffered an ankle injury during training on Wednesday.Scorecard: India vs England 5th TestDespite Padikkal's inclusion, England captain Ben Stokes's decision to bat first after winning the toss ensured the young batter would have to wait to showcase his skills with the bat. The other Indian debutants in the series are: Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Patidar, and Akash Deep.Padikkal has so far scored 2227 runs in 31 first-class match in his domestic career, which included six centuries and 12 fifties with a highest score of 193.Stokes highlighted the favorable conditions, expressing confidence in his team's ability to perform well and aiming to end the series on a high note.Indian captain Rohit Sharma, acknowledging the significance of the moment, expressed pride in Ravichandran Ashwin's achievement of playing his 100th Test and extended best wishes for his performance. Sharma also announced the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, replacing Akash Deep in the lineup, as India aim to solidify their position atop the World Test Championship standings.Meanwhile, England made a solitary change, with fast bowler Mark Wood coming in for Ollie Robinson, emphasizing their determination to salvage pride with a favorable result in the final match of the series.