Devdutt Padikkal Shines with Double Century in Ranji Trophy Semi-Final
Karnataka’s captain, Devdutt Padikkal, made headlines on Monday as he scored his first-class double century during the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Uttarakhand. This remarkable performance raises his profile in the eyes of India’s Test selectors.
Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Padikkal delivered an impressive innings, showing both patience and strength to anchor his team in a crucial match. He reached the significant milestone after 288 balls, skillfully navigating through the Uttarakhand bowling attack.
The game started with some uncertainty for Karnataka when opener Mayank Agarwal was dismissed early. However, Padikkal quickly changed the momentum, forming an extraordinary 278-run partnership with KL Rahul, which put Uttarakhand on the back foot.
Although Rahul scored an impressive 141 before being caught and bowled, Padikkal remained unfazed and continued to lead Karnataka forward, exhibiting mastery in longer formats of the game. His knock not only propelled the team past the 400-run mark but also surpassed his previous best score of 193 from the current season.
Ultimately, Padikkal finished his innings on a remarkable 232 off 330 balls, including 29 fours and three sixes, showcasing his growing skill in red-ball cricket. With this performance, he crossed the 3,500-run mark in first-class cricket, improving his tally to over 3,616 runs across 53 matches at an average of around 42, featuring nine centuries and 19 half-centuries.
This season of the Ranji Trophy has been especially fruitful for Padikkal. In just nine innings from five matches, he has amassed over 520 runs with an average above 60, including two centuries and a half-century. Although he has primarily identified as an opener, he has adapted to batting at No. 3, demonstrating the ability to handle pressure and build substantial innings, enhancing his case for a middle-order position in India’s Test lineup.
Padikkal has had a brief stint with the Indian Test team, playing two matches where he scored 90 runs, including a debut half-century of 65 against England in Dharamsala in 2024. However, his performance at the No. 3 spot for India has been modest, with only 25 runs in two innings.
Despite these challenges, the selectors are on the lookout for stability in the Test middle order. Padikkal’s knack for playing patiently and crafting big innings, particularly on significant domestic platforms, could strengthen his chances for a Test recall.
As the Ranji Trophy progresses, many will be watching to see if Padikkal continues to shine and regain his spot in the national team.
