Devdutt Padikkal IPL: Will he set IPL 2023 on fire?

Devdutt Padikkal is one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket today. Born in Edapal, Kerala, he represents Karnataka in domestic cricket and has quickly established himself as one of the most promising young openers in the country. In this blog, we will take a look at Devdutt Padikkal IPL journey, from his debut in 2020 to his move to Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2023 season.

IPL 2020: A Dream Debut Season

Devdutt Padikkal was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL 2019 auction for INR 20 lacs. He made his debut in the 2020 season and had a dream debut season for the franchise. He scored 473 runs in 15 matches at an average of 31.53 with 5 half-centuries. Padikkal quickly established himself as a key member of the RCB top order, forming a formidable partnership with skipper Virat Kohli. His performances were particularly impressive given that it was his debut season in the IPL.

Padikkal’s performances in the 2020 season were characterized by his aggressive stroke-play and his ability to score runs at a brisk pace. He scored his runs at a strike rate of 124.80 and was particularly effective in the powerplay overs, where he often got RCB off to a blazing start.

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IPL 2021: A Solid Follow-Up Season

Padikkal followed up his debut season with another solid performance in the 2021 season. He scored 411 runs in 14 matches at an average of 31.61 with one century and one half-century. The highlight of his season was his century against the Rajasthan Royals, where he scored an unbeaten 101 off just 52 balls.

Padikkal’s performances in the 2021 season were characterized by his consistency and his ability to anchor the RCB innings. He often batted through the innings, providing stability to the top order and allowing the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers to play their natural game.

IPL 2022: A Mixed Season

Padikkal had a mixed season in the 2022 season, scoring 376 runs in 17 matches at an average of 22.12 with one half-century. While he wasn’t as consistent as he was in the previous two seasons, he did have some notable performances, including a half-century against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

One of the reasons for Padikkal’s slightly underwhelming performances in the 2022 season was the fact that he often had to bat in the middle order, rather than opening the innings. With the arrival of Glenn Maxwell, RCB moved Padikkal down the order, which meant that he had less time to build an innings and less opportunity to score at a brisk pace.

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Devdutt Padikkal IPL

Ahead of the 2023 season, Padikkal was one of the most sought-after players at the auction. After an intense bidding war, it was Rajasthan Royals who managed to secure his services for INR 12.5 crore.

Padikkal’s move to Rajasthan Royals is an exciting new chapter in his IPL journey. He will have new partners in the top-order, but his role will remain the same – to get the team off to a blazing start. The Royals will be hoping that Padikkal can replicate his performances from his debut season with RCB and help them challenge for the title.

Devdutt Padikkal’s IPL journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He has established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket and has quickly become a fan favourite. His performances in the IPL have been characterized by his aggressive stroke-play, his ability