Brad Hogg, the former Australia left-arm unorthodox spinner has stated that Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal has got the ability to play for India in future. Brad Hogg was extremely impressed by the way Devdutt Padikkal has shown consistency in IPL 2020 so far, scoring three fifties from just four games.
Earlier in one of his videos, Brad Hogg had mentioned that Devdutt Padikkal’s weakness was the short ball bowled into his ribs and pacer Sheldon Cottrell had exploited that weakness in RCB’s game against Kings XI Punjab.
Brad Hogg: Devdutt Padikkal Has Made Adjustment In Playing Short Ball Well
However, the 49-year-old spinner noted that Devdutt Padikkal had made adjustments and has been playing the short ball well in the following games. Devdutt Padikkal is 6th in leading the run-scorers list in IPL 2020 so far with 174 runs in 4 matches averaging 43.50. He trails behind the likes of KL Rahul, Faf Du Plessis, Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma and David Warner.
“It’s Devdutt Padikkal’s first IPL and he has made three fifties out of four innings. In the second game he really got tested by Cottrell with that short ball into the ribs. But I have seen him play a couple of pull shots against quality quick bowling after that. This kid has got the goods to play for India,” Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel.
Brad Hogg was impressed by the way opener Devdutt Padikkal worked on his weakness after realizing that pacers from the other franchises would test him with the short ball. Devdutt Padikkal scored 56,1, 54 and 63 in the 4 matches. He failed to score runs against KXIP.
Devdutt Padikkal Pulled Jasprit Bumrah With Short Ball Which Shows He Is A Quick Thinker And Learner
Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah, considered to be one of the premier fast T20 bowlers, was extremely well dealt with by Devdutt Padikkal in the game following the encounter against KXIP and Brad Hogg was full of praise for the 20-year-old.
“In the second game, Padikkal got tested by Cottrell by the short ball. The next game, he pulled Bumrah with the short ball to the body. That showed me that he is a quick thinker. He learns quickly. And that is probably the best batting performance that I have seen, his three fifties in four innings,” Brad Hogg said.
RCB play their next game against the Rajasthan Royals on Monday in Dubai. Devdutt Padikkal will be keen to carry on his fantastic form and look to score as many runs as possible.