3 players India should build their next Test cycle around

India is currently a side which is going through the motions of moving on from one era to another in Test cricket. Only a few names remain from one of Indian Test cricket's most successful eras, and India will need to properly execute their succession planning. While teams have undergone tumultuous periods in transition, India has a wide talent pool to tap into, with players excelling across conditions.

Multiple players have come into the side by putting up statement performances, showing that they belong at this level. These players, if used in specific roles, could prove to be torch-bearers of the next generation of Indian cricket, as they look to dominate further in the result-orientated period of Test cricket brought about by the World Test Championship.

Here are 3 Indian players around whom the future Test team should be built:

3. Manav Suthar

While two matches are generally not enough of a sample size to judge a player on, Manav Suthar has shown an impeccable skill set in his first two Test appearances with the Indian side. The left-arm spinner has already picked up 17 wickets in his first two games, bowling with control and guile, outfoxing batters with drift and turn. Suthar is an old-fashioned spinner, relying on variations in pace to generate turn instead of trying to restrict the batter for room.

With Ravindra Jadeja into what could be the final swansong of his Test career, India have in Suthar a bowler who has shown that he has the skill to potentially take over the beacon from the veteran all-rounder. He has also shown a handy ability with the bat, which adds more value to his profile as a bowling all-rounder.

2. Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna has slowly evolved from a hit-the-deck fast-bowling prospect to a potential frontline pace bowler for the Indian side. The tall, lanky quick from Karnataka first burst onto the scene as an option for tours of South Africa and Australia with his ability to generate bounce off hard lengths. He has now become a key bowler for the side, being able to bowl with both the new ball and the old.

With Jasprit Bumrah's injury record being a concern for the Indian side, the need for a fast bowler who can be effective in all conditions becomes one the team must address. Krishna, with his high pace and hit-the-deck abilities, could be a potent weapon even on surfaces without much help for the bowlers.

1. Devdutt Padikkal

India's search for a reliable batter and permanent fixture at number 3 has been a long one, which became an issue that resurfaced after captain Shubman Gill moved down to number 4. Sai Sudharsan, who was the option in trial for the last year, picked up an untimely injury, which brought Devdutt Padikkal onto the scene. Padikkal took his chance with both arms, now having recorded his second century of the tour against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Padikkal has looked in complete control against the spinners in the subcontinent, getting forward and backwards with ease, while also using his feet to clear down the ground. He has shown the temperament to bat long and score big in the domestic game, which was on display during his 167 in Galle. He has also shown the ability to score against seam bowling, which is an encouraging sign for the future of Indian cricket.