Overview

• Devdutt Padikkal made 96 and Karun Nair hit 73 in a 146-run third-wicket partnership for Karnataka against Saurashtra in Rajkot.
• Left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja removed both set batters, trapping Nair lbw on 73 and bowling Padikkal on 96.
• Nair was omitted after modest returns on the England tour, and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar said, “We expected more… it can’t be just one innings.”
• Padikkal, who replaced Nair in the Test squad, is viewed by selectors as in strong form, with Agarkar saying the left-hander “offers more.”
• India’s two-Test home series against South Africa begins on November 14 at Eden Gardens, and Karnataka have four Ranji matches before then to influence selection.