Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal was in dreamland after having earned his maiden Test call-up. On Monday, the 23-year-old was drafted into the Test squad for the third of the ongoing 5-Test series against England as a replacement for KL Rahul, who failed to recover in time from a quadriceps injury.
Devdutt Padikkal learned about his Test call-up shortly after the thrilling Ranji Trophy match between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in Chennai on Monday. Padikkal played a key role in helping Karnataka clinch crucial points as the visiting side sealed a draw with a first innings lead in Chepauk. The left-handed batter, batting at No. 3, hit 151 in the first innings and a handy 36 in the second innings as he continued his fine run in red-ball cricket in the ongoing season.
Speaking after earning his maiden Test call-up, Devdutt Padikkal said he is proud of the effort that he put in after battling against a stomach issue in the 2022-23 season, saying he kept falling ill often and lost 10 kilos during his battle with the illness.
“The call-up is yet to sink in. The Test team is always a dream, and this has come after a tough few years. I feel very proud that all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off. Can’t thank my family and well-wishers enough for sticking by me,” Devdutt Padikkal told The Times of India.
“Returning from the illness was very tough. The biggest challenge was to get physically fit. I had lost 10 kilos and I had to eat right and concentrate on regaining muscle and strength,” he added.
Devdutt Padikkal is on a purple patch, having scored a hundred and fifty for India A against England Lions in Ahmedabad before he shone against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. In 4 matches in the domestic red-ball tournament, the left-handed batter has racked up 556 runs at an average of 92.66 and a strike rate of 76.90 with 3 centuries to his name.
THE HIGHS AND LOWS
Devdutt Padikkal made his T20I debut in July and played 2 matches for India, but the youngster fell off the radar due to inconsistent performances. Devdutt’s IPL performances were impacted by his ill health, and he was not able to make a mark as a middle-order batter after signing up for the Rajasthan Royals in 2022 and 2023.
The 2022-23 season saw him struggle to maintain the high standards he had set for himself. His condition led to frequent hospital visits, which inevitably took a toll on his training and preparation.
Padikkal’s ordeal with the illness was reflected in his performance during the Ranji Trophy, where he managed to score only 260 runs across seven innings. This was a stark contrast to his previous seasons, where he had shown much promise and potential. The impact of the illness was such that it often left him incapacitated, affecting his ability to contribute to the field fully.
