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An in-form Devdutt Padikkal scored his maiden first-class double century in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 semifinal’s Day 2 at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Padikkal played the perfect captain’s knock for Karnataka, asserting dominance over Uttarkhand.
Padikkal started the day with an overnight score of 148. Karnataka were 355/2 as KL Rahul scored his second consecutive century in Ranji Trophy knockouts. Early into Day 2, Padikkal got to his 150 from 245 balls. On the other end, Karun Nair took 83 deliveries to get to his fifty.
Once settled, Padikkal looked to find boundaries and succeeded. The partnership was broken by Abhay Negi in the 10th over. Padikkal and Nair put on 129 runs for the third wicket. Nair scored 60 runs from 105 balls, including eight fours and a six.
Padikkal reached his maiden double hundred in red-ball cricket from 288 deliveries. In the 118th over, his knock came to an end. Lakshya Raichandani was introduced into the attack and he delivered with the prized wicket. The skipper's knock of 232 from 330 featured 29 fours and three sixes. When he departed Karnataka had 484/4 on the board. They are heading towards a gigantic total in the first innings.
Padikkal's previous highest score in first-class cricket was 193 which came against Punjab in Ranji Trophy 2023-24 clash.
Padikkal wants a spot in India Test XI
The 25-year-old has sent a timely reminder to Indian selectors and team management. After stellar numbers in List A, averaging 82.23, the left-handed batter is working towards cementing his spot in the Test team. Earlier this year, he was in the Test squad but did not get a game against West Indies as Nitish Kumar Reddy was preferred over him. His last Test appearance was in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener in Perth where he bagged a 23-ball duck followed by a 71-ball 25.
He has played only two Tests so far, scoring 90 runs from three innings. He made his Test debut against England at home where he scored his maiden half-century.
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