'Every Ranji Trophy hundred is special' - Devdutt Padikkal after career-best 193

Devdutt Padikkal showcased his batting prowess with a career-best First-Class innings of 193 in 216 balls with 24 fours and four sixes against Punjab in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy opener in Hubballi on Saturday, January 6.

This outstanding performance not only propelled Karnataka into a dominant position but also served as redemption for Padikkal, erasing the painful memories from the previous season. Last year, he missed the first four matches due to an intestinal issue, leading to multiple hospital visits. Padikkal expressed his frustration from the setback and said that the previous period was pretty frustrating more than anything else.

"That period was pretty frustrating more than anything else. I knew that I was batting pretty well before that, and it so happened that I wasn’t able to contribute to my side," Padikkal said after the day’s play, as quoted by The Hindu.

Determined to make amends, Padikkal emphasised his commitment to helping the team this year, aiming to secure victories. He reflected on his relief at contributing significantly to putting his team in a commanding position in the current match.

“This year I want to make sure I help my team, try and win games for them. My relief was more to the fact that I was able to put my team in a commanding position," he added.

It was a wicket where it wasn’t easy to play aerial shots: Devdutt Paddikal

What makes Padikkal’s innings stand out even more is how he scored his runs. Despite a career red-ball strike rate of 53.35, he played this innings with a remarkable strike rate of 89.35, all while playing risk-free cricket. Notably, his first six came only after surpassing the 140-run mark. Reflecting on the challenging conditions, Padikkal noted,

“It was a wicket where it wasn’t easy to play aerial shots. But as I settled, I got the confidence to clear the boundary."

Padikkal mentioned that every Ranji Trophy hundred holds a special place for him and acknowledged that scoring a century in India's most prestigious domestic competition is no easy feat.

"[To me] every Ranji [Trophy] hundred is special. No matter what, the grind [towards] getting a hundred is tough. I was a bit nervous in the 90s, and also in the 190s. But it was a special one," he concluded.