Devdutt Padikkal, a batsman for the Rajasthan Royals, is struggling to keep up in the current Indian Premier League season. He gained attention in the IPL for his remarkable performances with Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he was acquired for INR 20 lacs in the player auction before the IPL 2019 season.
RCB’s acquisition of Devdutt Padikkal proved to be a successful move. The Karnataka-born cricketer made a significant impact during his debut season, amassing 473 runs with 5 half-centuries and finishing as the top run-scorer for the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise.
Devdutt Padikkal’s batting skills earned him accolades as he scored more runs than Virat Kohli in the IPL 2020 season. In the 2021 season, he accumulated 411 runs with one century and one half-century.
Devdutt Padikkal was considered a highly sought-after player following his impressive performances in two seasons with the bat. He was set to be a hot commodity at the mega auction in Bengaluru, where he was successfully recruited by the Rajasthan Royals. The franchise, which won the first IPL championship, secured Padikkal for a price of Rs 7.75 crore. He is currently opening the batting with England’s Jos Buttler.
The young cricketer stated that he finds batting with Virat Kohli more enjoyable than with Jos Buttler. He previously opened with Kohli at the RCB franchise, where the pair consistently started off with strong performances.
During a conversation with ESPNCricinfo, a fan asked Devdutt Padikkal in the #politeenquiries: “Who is more fun to bat with, Virat or Jos?” Padikkal had difficulty answering, but ultimately chose his former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, Virat Kohli.
During a Red Bull’s podcast “Greatness Starts Here,” Devdutt Padikkal recounted out a memory: “I vividly recall when Virat was being followed by a camera and he told the cameraman, ‘Go to him (Devdutt). He’s the main man today.’ That moment still gives me goosebumps whenever I think about it.”