Devdutt Padikkal reminded everyone of his class with a blistering century in Karnataka's knockout match against Baroda. Playing at the Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara on January 11, the stylish left-hander hit 102 off 99 balls. Having missed more opportunities during the tour of Australia, this knock was a loud statement.
The 24-year-old, who was part of INDIA A's shadow tour AustraliaI didn't get a second chance after the first Test in Perth. But his recent performance shows that he is not done fighting for his place in the national team.
Padikkal takes the lead against Baroda after the early contest
Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal fell early, leaving the team in trouble. But Padikkal took charge from the start. Opening alongside Agarwal, he found boundaries with ease in the powerplay and kept the scoreboard afloat.
While Padikkal was cruising, Aneesh KV took his time to settle down. Together, the pair forged a vital 133-run partnership for the second wicket, putting Karnataka back on track.
Padikkal reached his century in the 29th over, taking just 96 balls to get there. His knock was studded with 15 fours and 2 sixes, a perfect blend of class and aggression that dismantled the Baroda bowlers.
Fast start after Tony
Unfortunately, Padikkal's tenure ended shortly after his century. In the 32nd over, Raj Limbani bowled him out for 102. Limbani also dismissed Aneesh KV earlier, who scored 52 off 64 balls.
Padikkal's sets were not just about runs. It was a statement. His calculated aggression showed his hunger to prove his worth. This was his ninth century in List A cricket, where he averages over 80—a remarkable statistic for someone still building his career.
Padikkal Latest Appearances
Padikkal's cricketing journey has had its fair share of twists and turns. His last match in List A was against Chandigarh last season Vijay Hazare Trophywhere he scored a brilliant 114 at No.3 to help Karnataka win by 22 runs.
However, his stint with India A in Australia did not go as planned. He scored 36 and 88 in the first match but struggled in first-class matches. In the series opener against Australia in Perth, Padikkal was picked against Abhimanyu Easwaran but could not capitalize. He was dismissed for a duck from Josh Hazlewood in the first innings and managed only 25 in the second.
After that, he didn't get another chance. Once Shubman Gill recovered from his injury, Padikkal was left out. His only other outing was in a pink-ball warm-up match where he remained unbeaten on four.
But now, with this knock-out century, Padikkal has put his name back in the limelight.
Stay updated with all the cricket action, follow Cricadium IN WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, telegram AND Instagram
Source link