NEW DELHI: Top-order batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who was on tour with the India A side for two four-day matches, was asked to stay back as a batting backup by the BCCI due to the absence of captain Rohit Sharma and No. 3 bat Shumban Gill (fractured finger) from the opening Test match against Australia.
In lieu of Rohit, Padikkal will be included in the 18-man squad for the opening Test match at Perth's Opus Stadium.