NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Shubman Gill remains doubtful for the second Test in Guwahati after sustaining a neck injury, leaving India with a crucial selection call as they trail 1-0 in the series. With the team desperate to avoid another home series defeat, the question is simple yet significant: who steps in for a must win contest?

India has three realistic choices — Sai Sudarshan, Devdutt Padikkal and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Each brings a different skill set, and with Indian surfaces generally favoring spin, the team must decide whether a pure batter or a batting all rounder offers better balance.

1.Sai Sudarshan

Sai Sudarshan has quietly built a case based on steadiness rather than flash. He has scored over 270 Test runs so far, including a gritty fifty in England and an impressive 87 at home. His record in India stands out with an average above 40, showing he adjusts well to slower tracks.

Sudarshan is compact against spin, rotates strike naturally and rarely plays away from his body. For a side that collapsed twice in Kolkata, his ability to bat long and keep the scoreboard moving presents a strong argument. He brings no bowling value, but as a pure batter he is the safest replacement available.

2. Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal has played only two Tests but made an immediate impression in India with a fluent 65 on debut. His returns in Australia were modest, yet his technique against pace and bounce will not be heavily tested in Guwahati. What strengthens his case is his ability to put pressure back on bowlers without taking risky options.

Padikkal is naturally attacking and finds boundaries more often than Sudarshan, which could help India break the pressure cycles that hurt them in the first Test. The downside is his lack of experience and no all round skills, making him a high reward but slightly higher risk option.

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy gas has been called called up to the Test squad ahead of the 2nd TestHe has nearly 400 Test runs with a century, averaging close to 30, and has also picked up useful wickets with his seam bowling, His numbers are not eye catching, but his value lies in offering a seventh bowling option and lengthening the lower order,

The concern is that his batting is not yet as reliable as Sudarshan or Padikkal in the top order. If India wants stability, he may not be the first choice, but if they want balance, he becomes a serious contender.

Conclusion

In the end, the decision rests on what India read from the Guwahati surface in the hours leading into the Test. If the pitch shows signs of early moisture or carries enough for the quicks, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s seam option suddenly becomes valuable in a way the Kolkata Test never allowed. If the wicket looks dry and slow, India may prefer the security of a specialist batter, making Sai Sudarshan the safest route or Devdutt Padikkal the more attacking one.