Devdutt Padikkal, who replaced injured Shubman Gill in India’s playing XI for the Perth Test, was dismissed for a 23-ball duck, marking it the fourth-longest duck while batting at No.3 in Test history.

Padikkal, who made his debut earlier in the year against England, was a last-minute inclusion in India’s Test squad for the Australia tour. Gill injured his thumb while attempting a slip catch during India’s training, following which Padikkal, who was with the India A team earlier, was asked to stay back in Australia.

The left-hander walked out early after Yashasvi Jaiswal was also dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc, after facing eight deliveries. Padikkal held one end up briefly alongside KL Rahul, who replaced Rohit Sharma in the XI but was unable to get off the mark.

He was eventually dismissed for Josh Hazlewood, edging a good length ball to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

It was the fourth-longest duck in the history of Test cricket while batting at the position, behind only Azhar Ali (32), Boeta Dippenaar (27) and Sanjay Manjrekar (25). The only other batters to face more than 20 balls for a duck are ‘Young Jack’ Hearne (22), Pat Pocock (21) and Asif Mujtaba.

Batters with most balls faced for a duck at No.3

Player Balls for duck Match
Azhar Ali 32 PAK v ENG, 2010
Boeta Dippenaar 27 SA v AUS, 2001
Sanjay Manrekar 25 IND v SA, 1992
Devdutt Padikkal 23 IND v AUS, 2024
Young Jack' Hearne 22 ENG v AUS, 1924
Pat Pocock 21 ENG v WI, 1984
Asif Mujtaba 21 PAK v NZ, 1993
Hamsie Cronje 20 SA v IND, 1993
Athula Sanarasekera 19 SL v ENG, 1988
Danny Morrison 19 NZ v ENG, 1992

Among all India batters who have batted in the top seven, Padikkal’s 23-ball stay at the crease is the fourth-longest for no runs scored. Suresh Raina and Rishabh Pant lead the list, batting 29 balls for a duck; the former getting on the list during The Oval Test in 2011 and the latter during India’s tour to England in 2018.

India batters in the top seven with most balls faced for a duck

Batter Balls faced for duck Match
Suresh Raina 29 IND v ENG, 2011
Rishabh Pant 29 IND v ENG, 2018
Sanjay Manjrekar 25 IND v SA, 1992
VVS Laxman 24 IND v ENG, 2008
Devdutt Padikkal 23 IND v AUS, 2024
Dattu Phadkar 22 IND v AUS, 1948
Rahul Dravid 19 IND v ENG, 2008
Mohinder Amarnath 18 IND v ENG, 1979
Mohinder Amarnath 17 IND v AUS, 1977

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