Bengaluru, Dec 31 (UNI) Karnataka batsman Devdutt Padikkal continued his scintillating form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday, scoring his third century in four matches and sending a clear message to India selectors ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.
Padikkal, who opened the innings alongside Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal against Puducherry, played a composed and confident knock. The duo ensured Karnataka got off to a solid start, punishing loose deliveries while batting sensibly. Their partnership provided stability and momentum, frustrating the Puducherry bowlers who struggled to make breakthroughs.
The Agarwal-Padikkal opening stand proved monumental as the pair put together a 228-run partnership. Padikkal was eventually dismissed for 113 in the 38th over by spinner Jayant Yadav, ending the partnership. Agarwal also reached his century, scoring 132 before getting out, as Karnataka reached 266/2 in the first innings. Contributions from Karun Nair, who scored a fiery 62, and cameos from Smaran Ravichandran (21) and Abhinav Manohar (21) helped Karnataka post a massive total of 363/4 after 50 overs.
Padikkal’s century against Puducherry marked his third in the tournament, having previously scored 147 against Jharkhand and 124 against Kerala. With 405 runs in just four games, the 25-year-old left-hander has been one of the most consistent performers in the competition.
In his overall List A career, Padikkal has played 37 matches, amassing 2,477 runs, including 12 centuries and 12 half-centuries. His last international appearance came in November 2024 during the first Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series.
Selectors for India team have yet to announce the squad for the New Zealand ODI series, and Padikkal’s current form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy strengthens his case for a potential recall. His consistent run-scoring demonstrates his ability to adapt across conditions and formats, keeping him firmly in contention for national selection.
