Karnataka's Devdutt Padikkal scripted history in Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 even though he missed his fifth century in six innings. Padikkal departed for 91 in the clash against Rajasthan in Ahmedabad on January 6 but not before crossing the 600-run mark in the season. He set the record for least innings taken to score 600 runs in a VHT season.
While Padikkal waits for his maiden ODI call-up, he is setting records in List A. From just 38 innings, he has 13 centuries to his name. The southpaw has scored 2,676 runs at an average of 83.62 already.
Rajasthan skipper dismisses Padikkal in 90s
On January 5, Rajasthan skipper Manav Suthar won the toss and opted to bowl first at Ahmedabad's Gujarat College Cricket Ground 'A. Padikkal shared an 184-run opening partnership with skipper Mayank Agarwal. In the 29th over, left-arm spinner Suthar broke the partnership by knocking over Padikkal. He scored 91 runs from 82 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes.
ALSO READ: Ricky Ponting tells Suryakumar Yadav to 'not think about getting out' after horror run in 2025
After Padikkal's wicket, Karun Nair (14), Smaran Ravichandran (12) and KL Rahul (25) got starts but failed to convert them. Abhinav Manohar contributed with a 27-ball 35. In the end, Shreyas Gopal (13-ball 19) and Vijaykumar Vyshak (6-ball 10) helped Karnataka post 324/7. Rajasthan came back well after the 184-run opening partnership.
Padikkal’s chance to break another record
This is not the first time Padikkal has scored 600 or more runs in a Vijay Hazare Trophy edition. In 2020/21 season, he scored 737 runs from seven innings at an average of 147.40, including four centuries and three fifties. With Karnataka set to progress to the knockout stages, Padikkal has a chance to break the all-time record for most runs in a single VHT edition.
The record belongs to Tamil Nadu's Narayan Jagadeesan with 830 runs in 2022/23 season. He is closely followed by former Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw who scored 827 runs in 2020/21 season.
Padikkal’s scores this season -
147 against Jharkhand
124 against Kerala
22 against Tamil Nadu
113 against Puducherry
108 against Tripura
All his knocks this season have come in a winning cause.