As a promising left-handed opening batsman, Padikkal quickly made his mark in the IPL
Devdutt Padikkal, who shares his birthday with former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, celebrates his 23rd birthday today. Hailing from Edappal, a small town in Kerala, Padikkal's cricketing journey took off after relocating to Bangalore. There, he joined the Karnataka Institute of Cricket and began to develop his cricketing prowess.
As a promising left-handed opening batsman, Padikkal quickly made his mark in the IPL. He shone for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2019 to 2022, delivering remarkable performances. In 2023, he moved to the Rajasthan Royals and now plays for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.
Padikkal's international career took off with his T20I debut against Sri Lanka on July 28, 2021. He further established himself by making his Test debut on March 7, 2024, in the fifth match of the series against Sri Lanka.
As we celebrate his birthday, let us delve deeper into the lesser-known facts about the left-handed batter.
In 2017, Padikkal's burgeoning talent earned him a spot in the popular Karnataka Premier League (KPL), a competition known for shaping future Indian cricket stars. He was selected to play for the Bellary Tuskers and made a significant impact immediately. Opening the batting, Padikkal displayed an aggressive and fearless approach, dominating opposing teams with his powerful strokes. Padikkal played five matches for the Bellary Tuskers. During the tournament, he amassed 92 runs, with his highest score 72.
People recognize Devdutt Padikkal primarily for his exceptional batting skills, but it's important to note that he is also a capable right-arm off-spinner. Padikkal often gives his team vital breakthroughs because he can break partnerships at crucial moments. This bowling prowess adds another dimension to his game and could prove invaluable for India, especially given the limited number of batters who can contribute a few overs when needed. His versatility makes him a more comprehensive asset to any team he represents.
Devdutt Padikkal in action
Padikkal has consistently demonstrated his talent across various formats, scoring half-centuries on his first-class debut, List A debut and IPL debut. His exceptional displays led to him receiving the Emerging Player Award during the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. During his debut IPL season, Padikkal scored 473 runs in 15 matches, showcasing his potential as a top-order batsman.
Devdutt Padikkal celebrates his maiden century in IPL
On April 22, 2021, in the 2021 IPL season, Padikkal reached another milestone by scoring his maiden IPL century, an unbeaten 101. His stellar innings helped Royal Challengers Bangalore secure a dominant ten-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals.
Padikkal's prowess was evident in his maiden List A tournament, where he emerged as the highest run-scorer. Making his List A debut on September 26, 2019, for Karnataka in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Padikkal amassed 609 runs in eleven matches.
He sought to establish his dominance in the domestic circuit by amassing runs quickly and smashing sixes around the park. In the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he demonstrated his batting prowess by hitting an impressive 33 sixes and emerging as the highest run-scorer with 580 runs.
Padikkal emerged as a standout performer in the 2019-20 Indian domestic season, becoming the first player to amass 1000 runs across all formats. His journey from an India Under-19 prospect to a leading figure in Karnataka's cricketing landscape has been remarkable.
