Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal is an professional known for his elegant left-handed opening batting style and occasional right-arm off-break bowling. Born on 7 July 2000 in Edappal, , he represents in domestic and has played in the (IPL), initially for (RCB) from 2020, then (2022–2023) and (2024), returning to RCB for 2025, amassing over 1,800 runs in 74 IPL matches as of 2025. Padikkal's rise began in domestic cricket, where he made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy against Maharashtra in November 2018, scoring 77 runs in his maiden innings. In the 2019–20 season, he emerged as a standout performer, becoming the highest run-scorer in the (List A) with 609 runs. These consistent performances earned him a spot in the IPL auction, where RCB acquired him for INR 20 ahead of the 2020 season; he impressed in his debut year with 473 runs and peaked in 2021 with 411 runs at a of 125.30. On the international stage, Padikkal debuted in T20Is for against on 28 July 2021, scoring 29 runs in his first match. His debut came against in Dharamsala on 7 March 2024, where he scored a composed 65 in the second innings, helping secure a victory. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches, Padikkal is noted for his classical technique suited to longer formats, though he has adapted to white-ball 's demands, scoring two half-centuries in 10 matches during IPL 2025 before a injury sidelined him mid-season. As of November 2025, he has featured in two and two T20Is for , continuing to balance domestic commitments with IPL duties for RCB.

Early life

Family background

Devdutt Padikkal was born on 7 July 2000 in Edappal, a town in the of , . His parents are Babunu Kunnath and Ambili Padikkal, who hail from a Malayali family with no prior involvement in professional . Padikkal has an elder sister named Chandni Padikkal, who works as a lawyer. The family initially relocated from Kerala to Hyderabad during his early childhood, likely for professional opportunities, before settling there for several years. In 2011, when Padikkal was 11 years old, the family moved again from Hyderabad to Bengaluru to provide better facilities and support for his growing interest in cricket, demonstrating their strong encouragement despite their non-cricketing background. This relocation marked a significant sacrifice, as the family left behind their established life in Hyderabad to prioritize his aspirations.

Introduction to cricket and training

Devdutt Padikkal developed an early interest in at the age of nine while residing in , where his family had relocated from their native Edappal in shortly after his birth in 2000; his initial engagement with the sport was casual, centered primarily on batting as a activity. In 2011, at age 11, Padikkal's family moved to Bengaluru to pursue enhanced cricketing opportunities for him, a decision enabled by his parents' support in prioritizing his passion over their established life in Hyderabad. Upon arrival, he enrolled at the Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC) academy, training under head coach Irfan Sait, whose structured program emphasized disciplined skill-building from a young age. At KIOC, Padikkal focused on refining his natural left-handed batting technique, developing a solid stance, precise footwork, and shot selection suited to longer formats, which became hallmarks of his elegant style. This period marked his transition to serious training, including net sessions and fitness regimens tailored for endurance and consistency, as Sait noted the young batsman's innate composure under pressure. To balance his burgeoning commitments with , Padikkal attended Army Public School in for his initial year after the relocation, participating in inter-school matches that showcased his emerging talent, before transferring to St. Joseph's Boys' High School to continue this dual pursuit. Through KIOC's ecosystem, he competed in under-13, under-15, and under-19 age-group tournaments organized by the Karnataka State Association, steadily building match experience and earning selections that paved the way toward senior domestic opportunities.

Domestic career

First-class and List A debuts

Padikkal made his first-class debut for in the on 28 November 2018 against at the SDNR Wadiyar Cricket Stadium in , opening the innings and scoring 77 runs off 128 balls, including 11 fours and a six, to help secure a 7-wicket victory. In that debut season, he batted consistently at the top order across 10 innings, registering three half-centuries that highlighted his potential as a reliable opener. Building on his initial success, Padikkal featured prominently in the season for , amassing 649 runs in 10 matches at an average of 40.56, making him the team's leading run-scorer and contributing to their semifinal appearance. His performances underscored a growing maturity in longer-format batting, with notable scores including 99 against and 53 not out against Saurashtra. Padikkal's List A debut came on 26 September 2019 for in the against at the St Xavier's College Ground in , where he opened but was dismissed for 18 runs; despite the modest start, he went on to dominate the tournament with 609 runs overall. In T20 domestic , Padikkal made his initial appearances for in the 2019–20 , exploding onto the scene by scoring 580 runs across 12 matches at a of 175.75, which earned him the title of the competition's highest run-scorer and propelled his reputation as an aggressive limited-overs opener.

Key performances and records

Padikkal emerged as a standout performer in the 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy, topping the run charts with 609 runs in 11 innings at an average of 67.66, including two centuries and five half-centuries. His consistent scoring helped Karnataka reach the semi-finals, showcasing his ability to anchor innings in the 50-over format. In the 2020–21 edition, Padikkal achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian batter to score four consecutive centuries in List A cricket, aggregating 520 runs across those innings. This remarkable run included his career-best score of 152 off 140 balls against Odisha, which propelled Karnataka to a 101-run victory and underlined his dominance in white-ball domestic cricket. Padikkal's Ranji Trophy career has featured several high-impact knocks, with his highest score of 193 against in the 2023–24 season marking a personal best and contributing significantly to Karnataka's strong showing that year. He scored three centuries in that campaign, including 151 against , aiding Karnataka's recovery from earlier inconsistencies and securing key points in the Elite Group. These performances highlighted his resilience in red-ball , where he has been instrumental in stabilizing Karnataka's top order during challenging phases. In the 2023–24 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Padikkal led Karnataka's batting with 465 runs in five innings at an average of 155.00, featuring three centuries that propelled the team to the knockout stages. Building on this form into the 2024–25 season, he continued his prolific run, scoring 102 against Baroda in the quarter-finals and adding 86 in the semi-final against , while becoming the fastest Indian to reach 2,000 List A runs in just 27 innings. His contributions exceeded 500 runs across the tournament, reinforcing his status as Karnataka's premier limited-overs opener. In the 2024–25 , he scored 96 against Saurashtra in October 2025. By November 2025, Padikkal had amassed over 3,500 first-class runs at an average above 40, with seven centuries and 19 fifties, while in , his tally stood at more than 2,200 runs featuring nine hundreds, including the record for four consecutive centuries. These statistics underscore his evolution into one of domestic cricket's most reliable accumulators.

Indian Premier League career

2020 debut season with RCB

Devdutt Padikkal was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for his base price of INR 20 lakhs in the 2018 IPL auction ahead of the 2019 season but did not feature that year, setting the stage for his debut in the UAE-hosted tournament delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Padikkal made his IPL debut on September 21, 2020, opening the batting for RCB against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai, where he scored a composed 56 runs off 42 balls, including seven fours and a six, to anchor the innings. This half-century marked him as the third youngest Indian to score a fifty on IPL debut and helped RCB post 163/5, which they defended to win by 10 runs. He quickly established himself as a reliable top-order opener, often partnering with Aaron Finch, while Virat Kohli batted at number three, providing stability to RCB's lineup during their campaign that culminated in a playoff appearance. In his debut season, Padikkal played 15 matches, amassing 473 runs at an average of 31.53 and a of 124.80, making him RCB's second-highest run-scorer behind . He achieved five half-centuries, a remarkable feat that included three in his first four —56 against , 54 against , and 50 against —becoming the first player in IPL history to accomplish this. His highest score of 74 came against , showcasing his ability to build under pressure and contribute to RCB's qualification for the as the fourth-placed team. Padikkal's consistent performances earned him the IPL 2020 Emerging Player of the Season award, recognizing his rapid rise and impact as an uncapped talent in a high-stakes franchise tournament.

Team transitions and later seasons

Following his breakout 2020 season, Padikkal was retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of IPL 2021 for INR 20 lakh. He enjoyed another strong campaign, scoring 411 runs in 14 matches at an average of 31.61, including his maiden IPL century of 101* against . This performance highlighted his consistency as an opener, though RCB chose not to retain him post-season. Released by RCB, Padikkal was acquired by () at the IPL 2022 auction for INR 7.75 . In his debut season with the franchise, he played 17 matches, accumulating 376 runs at an average of 22.12, with a highest score of 54 against . Retained by for 2023 at the same price, Padikkal featured in 11 matches, scoring 261 runs at an average of 26.10, including a top score of 52 against RCB; his season was impacted by inconsistent form and limited opportunities in the batting order. Ahead of IPL 2024, traded him to (LSG) in a straight swap for pacer . Padikkal's stint with LSG in 2024 proved challenging, as he managed just 38 runs in 7 across 7 , with a highest of 13 against and an average of 5.43, struggling to adapt to the top order amid team competition. Released by LSG post-season, he returned to RCB at the IPL 2025 auction, where the secured him for INR 2 . In the early stages of the 2025 campaign, Padikkal showed resurgence, scoring 247 runs in 10 at an average of 41.17, featuring consecutive half-centuries including 61 against and a fifty against RR—his former team—demonstrating improved ball-striking after technical adjustments. However, a injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, with named as . Despite his absence due to injury, RCB went on to win the IPL 2025 title. These frequent team changes—from RCB to , then LSG, and back to RCB—tested Padikkal's adaptability, as he later reflected on the discomfort of lacking franchise stability affecting his rhythm. By the end of IPL 2025, Padikkal had amassed 1,806 runs in 74 matches overall, including 1 century and 11 half-centuries, at an average of 25.44.

International career

T20I debut and matches

Devdutt Padikkal made his T20I debut for on 28 July 2021 against at the in , opening the batting alongside . In his first international match, he scored 29 runs off 23 balls, including one four and one six, before being bowled by , as reached 132/5 in a match they lost by 4 wickets. His selection for the white-ball squad was based on consistent performances in domestic and the IPL earlier that year. In the third T20I of the series on 29 July 2021, also in , Padikkal opened but managed only 9 runs off 15 balls, dismissed lbw by , as were bowled out for 81/8 and lost by 7 wickets, with taking the series 2-1. He did not feature in the first match of the series. These two appearances marked Padikkal's entire T20I career to date, with no further call-ups by November 2025 amid stiff competition for opening spots from players like and . Across his two T20I matches, Padikkal accumulated 38 runs at an average of 19.00 and a of 100.00, showcasing solid technique in the limited opportunities but modest overall returns. His debut knock demonstrated promise against on a turning , though subsequent international exposure remained elusive.

Test appearances

Devdutt Padikkal made his Test debut for on 7 March 2024 against in the fifth Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Batting at number four, he scored 65 runs off 103 balls in the first innings, including 10 fours and a six, before being bowled by Shoaib Bashir; did not bat in the second innings as they enforced the in a match they won by an innings and 64 runs. His selection for the series came after KL Rahul was ruled out due to a knee injury, with Padikkal earning the call-up based on his strong domestic red-ball form, including scores of 151 and 36 in a match against earlier that month. Padikkal's second Test appearance came on 22 November 2024 against in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Optus Stadium in , where he opened the batting due to Shubman Gill's thumb injury. In the first innings, he was dismissed for 0 off 23 balls by , contributing to India's low total of 150; in the second innings, he scored 25 off 71 balls, helping stabilize the innings amid seaming conditions before being caught off . These two matches represent his entire senior experience as of November 2025, with modest overall statistics including a highest score of 65 and an average of 30.00, yet he was praised for his composure under pressure in bowler-friendly environments. Building on his prior T20I experience from 2021 as an stepping stone, Padikkal's prospects were boosted by strong showings on India A tours in 2025, such as a 150 against in an unofficial in September, which highlighted his red-ball resilience but did not lead to further senior selections amid competition for top-order spots.

References

  1. [1]
    Devdutt Padikkal Profile - Cricket Player India | Stats, Records, Video
    An elegant left-hand top-order batter, Karnataka's Devdutt Padikkal was picked up at the auction ahead of IPL 2020 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Stats · Matches · Photos · Videos
  2. [2]
    IPL 2025 | | Devdutt Padikkal Profile
    Born in Edapal, Kerala, Devdutt Padikkal represents Karnataka in domestic cricket. The 18-year old bats in the top order and has previously impressed in the ...
  3. [3]
    Devdutt Padikkal IPL Career Profile & Stats | RR 2025
    Devdutt Padikkal ; Batter. India ; matches. 74. runs. 1806. wickets. 0 ; born. July 7, 2000. IPL Debut. 2020. Batting Style. Left Handed. Bowling Style. Off break.<|control11|><|separator|>
  4. [4]
    Devdutt Padikkal Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats
    A lanky and stylish left-hander with a 6 '3 frame from Karnataka, Devdutt Padikkal oozes class and confidence. Devdutt was born in Edappal, Kerala, but his ...
  5. [5]
    Devdutt Padikkal ruled out of IPL 2025; RCB name Mayank Agarwal ...
    May 7, 2025 · Devdutt Padikkal will miss the remainder of IPL 2025 due to a hamstring injury, with RCB naming Mayank Agarwal named as the left-hander's replacement.
  6. [6]
    Devdutt Padikkal's 'glorious' Test debut in Dharamsala leaves former ...
    Mar 8, 2024 · 23-year-old Devdutt Padikkal looked confident during his 65-run knock on Test debut which was laced with 10 fours and a six | Cricket.
  7. [7]
    Devdutt Padikkal's Family - Father, Mother, Siblings, Wife, Kids
    Apr 12, 2024 · Devdutt Padikkal was born on July 7, 2000, to Ambili Padikkal and Babunu Kunnath in Edappal, Kerala. In 2011, his family moved to Bengaluru for ...
  8. [8]
    Devdutt Padikkal: The boy who just wanted to bat
    Mar 7, 2024 · In pursuit of the dream, the family shifted to Bengaluru and enrolled Padikkal at the Karnataka Institute Of Cricket (KIOC) academy under ...
  9. [9]
    Family elated over Devdutt Padikkal's Test debut - Onmanorama
    Mar 8, 2024 · His elder sister works with Dream11 and she is in Mumbai at present. She might go to Dharamsala in a day or two," he said. Born in Edappal in ...
  10. [10]
    Devdutt Padikkal: Born to play cricket, literally - Cricbuzz.com
    The move to Bengaluru took Devdutt to Army Public School. But that stint didn't last long, as the coach of St. Joseph's Boys High School - the very team ...Missing: sister | Show results with:sister<|control11|><|separator|>
  11. [11]
    Young batting sensation Devdutt Padikkal is looking forward ... - RCB
    Jul 9, 2021 · “Dream come true because ever since I started playing cricket at nine years old, this is the moment I have always dreamt about and always wanted ...
  12. [12]
    10 Facts about Devdutt Padikkal - All you need to know - CricTracker
    Sep 26, 2020 · Devdutt Padikkal was born in a small town named Edappal in Kerala. He moved to Bengaluru at the age of 11 and it was there where he started playing cricket.
  13. [13]
    Padikkal's ability to handle pressure from a young age is amazing
    Rating 4.4 (72,158) · FreeSep 23, 2020 · The family made a big decision and a huge sacrifice in shifting entirely from Hyderabad to Bangalore. That paved the way for Karnataka and KIOC ...
  14. [14]
    Devdutt Padikkal | Welcome to DH 20 in 2020
    A 10-year-old Padikkal joined Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC) in Bengaluru and began making waves. The lanky lad carries the typical grace of a left- ...
  15. [15]
    Indian cricket's greatest nursery - ESPNcricinfo
    Dec 1, 2020 · The man behind it all is Irfan Sait, a Level 3 certified coach who has been involved with cricket in Karnataka - the state of Erapalli Prasanna ...
  16. [16]
    Bengaluru has played a big role in my career: Devdutt Padikkal
    Jun 20, 2018 · I was born in Kerala and moved here seven years ago. So, yes, I am a Bengaluru boy. This city has been very kind to me. Everything is available ...Missing: family background
  17. [17]
    Devdutt Padikkal's career-best 152 hands Karnataka big win vs ...
    Feb 24, 2021 · Devdutt Padikkal continued his sizzling form to notch up a List A career-best score of 152 to help defending champions Karnataka register a massive 101-run win ...
  18. [18]
    Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Padikkal's century helps Karnataka take day ...
    Feb 9, 2024 · Devdutt Padikkal continued his purple patch by notching up his third century of the season as he guided Karnataka to a strong position of 288 for five against ...
  19. [19]
    Padikkal hits the high notes after some quiet seasons - ESPNcricinfo
    Feb 9, 2024 · After Devdutt Padikkal went from 88 to a century with a punchy sequence of 6,4,4 off Tamil Nadu captain R Sai Kishore, he pumped his fist, ...
  20. [20]
    Devdutt Padikkal becomes fastest in history to 2000 List A runs
    Rating 4.4 (72,158) · FreeJan 16, 2025 · Astonishingly, he got to 2000 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in just 27 appearances, 11 clear of Ruturaj Gaikwad's record.
  21. [21]
    Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Padikkal helps Karnataka break ...
    Jan 15, 2025 · Building on his ton in the quarterfinal, Padikkal anchored a tricky 238-run chase to ensure Karnataka didn't suffer a fourth semifinal defeat in ...
  22. [22]
    Devdutt Padikkal completes 3000 First-class runs with 7th century
    Sep 19, 2025 · Playing his 45th FC match, Padikkal has raced past 3,000 runs. He owns 3,038 runs at an average of 42-plus. He has hit 7 tons and 18 fifties. 90 ...
  23. [23]
    IPL 2020: Devdutt Padikkal to T Natarajan - Smartest domestic buys ...
    Oct 15, 2020 · He has been with the RCB since IPL 2019, where he was brought for his base price of INR.20 lakh. While DDP warmed the RCB benches for the whole ...
  24. [24]
    Padikkal shines on IPL debut as RCB post 163/5 against SRH ...
    Sep 21, 2020 · Devdutt Padikkal displayed his highly rated talent with a half-century on IPL debut before AB de Villiers provided the much needed final flourish.
  25. [25]
    Padikkal only player in IPL to score 3 fifties in first 4 games - Sportstar
    Oct 3, 2020 · Devdutt Padikkal only player in IPL history to score 3 fifties in first 4 games · Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal continued ...
  26. [26]
    IPL 2020 Stats & Awards | All Time Records | IPLT20
    Devdutt Padikkal. RCB. 473, 15, 15, 0, 74, 31.53, 379, 124.80, 0, 5, 51, 8. 9. Virat Kohli. RCB. 466, 15, 15, 4, 90*, 42.36, 384, 121.35, 0, 3, 23, 11. 10. AB ...
  27. [27]
    IPL 2020 full list of award winners: Jofra Archer is MVP, emerging ...
    Nov 11, 2020 · Emerging player of the season - Devdutt Padikkal This season saw many new players taking the center stage but it was Royal Challengers ...
  28. [28]
    IPL 2021 Stats & Awards | All Time Records | IPLT20
    Devdutt Padikkal. RCB. 411, 14, 14, 1, 101*, 31.61, 328, 125.30, 1, 1, 44, 14. 12. Virat Kohli. RCB. 405, 15, 15, 1, 72*, 28.92, 339, 119.46, 0, 3, 43, 9. 13.
  29. [29]
    IPL 2022 Stats & Awards | All Time Records | IPLT20
    Devdutt Padikkal. RR. 376, 17, 17, 0, 54, 22.12, 306, 122.87, 0, 1, 40, 14. 20. Ruturaj Gaikwad. CSK. 368, 14, 14, 0, 99, 26.29, 291, 126.46, 0, 3, 33, 14. View ...
  30. [30]
    Devdutt Padikkal LSG IPL in 2024 - Advance Cricket
    In 2024, Devdutt Padikkal played 7 IPL matches and scored 38 runs in 7 Innings. Devdutt Padikkal's Highest Score in IPL 2024 is 13. D Padikkal has 0 IPL ...
  31. [31]
    Devdutt Padikkal IPL Career: Records, Age, Price, Team 2025, Stats
    In the IPL Auction 2025, the RCB franchise acquired the services of Devdutt Padikkal for Rs 2.00 Cr. On May 2025, he played his last IPL match against CSK at ...
  32. [32]
    Royal Challengers Bengaluru sign Mayank Agarwal as injury ... - IPL
    May 8, 2025 · Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have signed Mayank Agarwal as an injury replacement for Devdutt Padikkal for the remainder of TATA Indian ...
  33. [33]
    RCB replace injured Padikkal with Agarwal; DC bring in Atal for Brook
    May 7, 2025 · Devdutt Padikkal has been sidelined from the rest of IPL 2025 with a hamstring injury. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have brought in his Karnataka captain ...
  34. [34]
    It was a little uncomfortable not being settled on one franchise
    Apr 8, 2025 · Cricket News: Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Devdutt Padikkal opens up on moving to different franchises over his IPL career.
  35. [35]
    IND vs ENG Cricket Scorecard, 5th Test at Dharamsala, March 07
    IND vs ENG ; Match days, 7,8,9 March 2024 - day (5-day match) ; Test debut. Devdutt Padikkal ; Umpires. West Indies. Joel WilsonDRS. Australia. Rod TuckerDRS ; TV ...
  36. [36]
    KL Rahul ruled out of third India vs England Test Devdutt Padikkal ...
    Feb 12, 2024 · India have been dealt a blow in the lead-up to the Rajkot Test against England, with KL Rahul ruled out of contention due to a sore knee.
  37. [37]
    What Devdutt Padikkal has done to earn India Test call-up | Cricket
    Feb 13, 2024 · Devdutt Padikkal has received a maiden Test call-up ahead of the third match between India and England that is scheduled to start on February 15.<|control11|><|separator|>
  38. [38]
    AUS vs IND Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Perth, November 22
    Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2.1 ov), 2-14 (Devdutt Padikkal, 10.6 ov), 3-32 (Virat Kohli, 16.2 ov), 4-47 (KL Rahul, 22.2 ov), 5-59 (Dhruv Jurel, ...
  39. [39]
    Australia v India: first men's Test, day three – as it happened
    Nov 24, 2024 · Wonderful support innings from KL Rahul (77), Devdutt Padikkal (25), Washington Sundar (25) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38) took them to 487 for 6 – ...
  40. [40]
    Devdutt Padikkal | cricket.com.au
    Nov 1, 2024 · Career Debuts. T20I Debut 28 July 2021; Test Debut 07 March 2024. Player Story. A stylish left-hander, Devdutt Padikkal burst onto the scene ...
  41. [41]
    Devdutt Padikkal cracks hundred on India A comeback vs Australia ...
    Sep 19, 2025 · Resuming from his overnight score of 86, Padikkal cantered to his century in only 20 balls on the fourth morning's play as India A nudged closer ...
  42. [42]
    Devdutt Padikkal Debut and last played matches in Tests, ODIs ...
    Debut. Uttarakhand vs Karnataka at Visakhapatnam- November 08, 2019 · Last. RCB vs CSK at Bengaluru- May 03, 2025. Recent Matches - Player. Match, Bat, Date ...