Devdutt Padikkal scored 101 runs and helped RCB chase down RR’s target in just 16.3 overs with ten wickets in hand in an IPL 2021 match. It was an impressive display from the left-hander as he smashed 6 sixes and 11 fours during his entertaining 52-ball unbeaten knock.
Royal Challengers Bangalore mauled Rajasthan Royals on Thursday to win their fourth straight game of Indian Premier League 2021. RCB restricted RR to a total of 177 runs after an impressive performance from Indian seamers Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel. But the real star of the show was Devdutt Padikkal, who slammed his maiden IPL ton and 2nd IPL 2021 ton after RR’s Sanju Samson against RR at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Devdutt Padikkal Won’t Surprise Sunil Gavaskar If He Is Selected For India
Former India skipper and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar was also impressed with Devdutt Padikkal’s display on Thursday as he said that the 20-year-old could play for Team India sooner rather than later.
“Won’t be surprised if he plays for India in any of the formats because he has got the class and the ability to do that. He is a heavy scorer in first-class cricket and Ranji Trophy as well gets big hundreds. In 50-overs cricket, he gets lots of runs and hundreds.
“Here, in the T20 domestic tournaments, he got lots of runs. So, I won’t be surprised if he is there sooner rather than later,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
“Karnataka has always produced a terrific line of batsmen. Gundappa Vishwanath, Rahul Dravid… then KL Rahul. And if KL Rahul, you know, some of the stars need to believe in themselves a little bit more. Sometimes you get the feeling that he doesn’t believe in himself.
“He is such a talented player And there is Mayank Agarwal, there is Karun Nair who got a triple hundred, he also needs to get his act together. It’s a terrific batting line-up Karnataka have,” Sunil Gavaskar added.
Prior to the start of this edition of the IPL, Devdutt Padikkal tested positive for Covid-19 and he missed RCB’s opening game against Mumbai Indians. The 20-year-old who plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket signed off IPL 2020 as RCB’s highest run-getter and 8th highest run-getter with 473 runs in 15 IPL matches at an average of 31.53 in his debut season.
Devdutt Padikkal Is Another Karnataka Batsman Who Have Delighted Indian Cricket Fans: Sunil Gavaskar
He scored 218 runs at an average of 43.60 in six matches for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and continued with his sublime touch in the Vijay Hazare Trophy amassing 737 runs in 7 matches at an astonishing average of 147.40. His onslaught in the Vijay Hazare Trophy included four back-to-back centuries.
Rajasthan Royals was never in the game during the chase. Royal Challengers Bangalore openers Devdutt Padikkal (101 runs from 52 balls) and Virat Kohli (72 runs off 47) helped the team register a dominant 10-wicket victory tonight with 21 balls remaining.
“And Devdutt Padikkal is another one in that long line of batsmen who have delighted the Indian cricket lovers.”
Taking nothing away from the duo, RR bowlers did struggle hard with their line and lengths. Chetan Sakariya was the only one who had an economy rate of less than nine. RCB goes back to the top of the IPL 2021 standing and is the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament.
RR, who were put in to bat, made one change – Shreyas Gopal replaced Jaydev Unadkat in the playing XI. RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj found an early breakthrough after he disturbed the timber to dismiss Jos Buttler.
RR then lost the wickets of Manan Vohra and David Miller in the next two overs and was in early trouble. RR was back on the track with 81/4 after 11 overs. The Shivam Dube-Riyan Parag pair completed a fifty-run partnership. Rahul Tewatia came to the crease with an aggressive mindset but his 40 and Shivam Dube’s 46 went in vain.
Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 181/0 (Devdutt Padikkal 101*, Virat Kohli 72*) beat Rajasthan Royals 177/9 (Shivam Dube 46, Rahul Tewatia 40; Mohammed Siraj 3/27) by 10 wickets.