In the enthralling fifth Test clash between India and England, the spotlight was on Karnataka’s budding talent, Devdutt Padikkal, as he marked his Test debut. Following a captivating domestic season, the young batter didn’t just announce his arrival; he did it in style by smashing a six to score his maiden Test half-century. Fans are left in awe, drooling over the sheer brilliance of his innings, as Padikkal’s debut becomes a memorable chapter in the cricketing saga.
A Dream Debut for Padikkal:
After playing some sensational knocks on the domestic stage earlier this year, Padikkal proved his talent. He played some match-winning knocks, he got his maiden Test call-up in the third Test. He was on the bench in the third and fourth Test match. Stepping into the playing XI for the fifth Test against England at HPCA, Dharamsala, Padikkal took over from Rajat Patidar. The left-hander left his mark on his debut innings, showcasing brilliance with a splendid half-century that added a touch of excitement to the game.
Entering the fray at the number four position following skipper Rohit Sharma‘s departure, Padikkal played a pivotal role. Teaming up with Sarfaraz Khan, the duo forged a crucial 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This stand proved instrumental in rebuilding the Indian innings after the quick dismissals of centurions Rohit and Shubman Gill.
In a display of confidence, the 23-year-old Padikkal showcased his prowess with a 65-run innings, adorned with 10 fours and a spectacular six that brought up his debut Test fifty. However, his impressive 103-ball stay came to an end when Shoaib Bashir delivered a sublime delivery, outfoxing Padikkal and hitting the stumps.
Words of the Southpaw:
Receiving the Test Debut Cup for India is every budding cricketer, and so is Devdutt. The young batter of Karnataka opened up about his debut and the struggle and hard work behind it. While talking about the debut, he said, “ I just wanted to be ready (talking about the debut blues), I got the message the previous day that there is a possibility that I could play. These opportunities are rare to come and I was ready and prepared for this challenge.”
Later he added, “I was a bit nervous going in, but I wanted to make sure that I wanted to use that energy in a positive way. It was a bit challenging at the beginning (when I walked out to bat), but I wanted to put my head down and build a partnership with Sarfaraz. It’s a special feeling (getting his debut Test cap) no matter what the circumstances, to live in that dream is something special. At the start, I was a bit tentative (while batting) to get going, but once I got my eye in it got much easier. There was a bit of reverse and those are two (Anderson and Stokes) top-quality bowlers you are facing. It was challenging, but I wanted to get used to the wicket.”
The last couple of years were challenging for Devdutt. He struggled with health issues which impacted his performance. While taking about those hardships, he said, “ It was challenging the last couple of years, because of my health issues (had problems with his gut health) which are well-documented, so when you are sitting at home and not doing anything, it surely wasn’t a pleasant feeling, but I wanted to make the most of the opportunity whenever it comes.”
Rahul Dravid gave some tips before batting. Devdutt Said, “ It’s always great to have familiar faces (while on debut), especially Rahul sir mentioned that in the first 10-15 minutes you will have nerves, but go out and enjoy it. Those words definitely helped me. I felt we could have batted a bit better, and could have carried on a bit better in the last session. We have 3 quality spinners and they will definitely come into play (tomorrow).”
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