Padikkal answers selectors with a bat, scripts Vijay Hazare history
Ignored for the recent ODI series, Devdutt Padikkal has let his form do the talking in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Karnataka left-hander is the leading run-scorer in the current edition, and has written his name into the tournament record books with a rare and impressive achievement.
Record-breaking run spree
Padikkal has piled up 721 runs from eight innings this season at an average of about 103, including four centuries and two fifties. Those numbers underline the kind of consistency he’s shown all tournament long.
More significantly, Padikkal has become the first batter in Vijay Hazare Trophy history to score more than 700 runs in two different seasons. He first crossed the 700 mark in 2021/22 with 737 runs, and has now done it again this season with 721 and at least one match still to go.
Match-winning knock in the quarter-final
When the pressure rose in the quarter-final against Mumbai, Padikkal delivered again. Chasing a revised target, he remained unbeaten on 81 off 95 balls, steering Karnataka to victory by 55 runs via the VJD method. His composed starts at the top have been a major reason Karnataka have progressed deep into the competition.
On the verge of an even bigger feat
- The single-season record for most runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is held by Narayan Jagadeesan, who scored 830 in 2022/23.
- With at least one match remaining, Padikkal has a realistic chance to challenge that mark if Karnataka reach the final and he gets one or two more innings.
International hopes and the selectors’ dilemma
Despite the domestic dominance, Padikkal hasn’t been rewarded with an ODI debut yet. He has played for India in other formats — two Test matches (accumulating 90 runs after debuting against England in 2024 and then playing in Perth against Australia) and a couple of T20Is against Sri Lanka in 2021 (38 runs across two matches). He has also been named in ODI squads before, but is still waiting for that maiden ODI cap.
With form like this, the pressure on selectors will only increase. For now, Padikkal continues to build a strong case in domestic cricket — scoring runs, winning matches and pushing for a recall to the national setup.
Where he stands
- Leading run-scorer this Vijay Hazare Trophy: 721 runs (8 innings)
- Seasons with 700+ runs in Vijay Hazare: 2 (2021/22 and current season)
- Possible to chase the single-season record of 830 if Karnataka progress further
Selectors will be watching; Padikkal’s bat is making that a very hard task to ignore.