Devdutt Padikkal (Source: @Rcb_Xtra/x.com)
When things don’t go our way, we blame fate, circumstances, even ourselves, but rarely do we rebuild in silence and script a powerful comeback. Devdutt Padikkal did exactly that, staying calm amid chaos as criticism rained down. Trusting the magic of time, he believed in the process, and time healed his scars.
Hailing from the state of Karnataka, Devdutt Padikkal carries grit, excellence, patience and power in his blood, and for him, cricket became the perfect stage to showcase this all.
Jaw-dropping domestic stats, mind-blowing IPL debut, red-ball brilliance to white-ball heroics, Padikkal’s cricket CV holds everything almost. Almost, because one thing has always eluded him: a continuous run at the highest level.
When Indian cricket entered a phase of transition, the youngster dared to dream of finally owning a permanent spot at the highest level. He was included in the squad, left out of the playing XI, trained with the team, but ended up warming the bench. But the reality has been a little less harsh for the Karnataka batter.
Karnataka gives him wings, the world hails a superstar
Just like a potter chooses fresh, untouched clay to shape his finest creation, domestic cricket molds raw talent into future stars. When a budding cricketer steps into the grassroots level, he goes through some polish which made them future superstar, and Devdutt Padikkal’s cricket story is no different.
Cricketing destiny is so magical that a youngster who was born in Kerala stepped into Karnataka just to give wings to his cricket dreams, and the state got a future superstar in him. The young cricketer’s strong manifestation turned into reality as he created waves from a very young age.
At the age of just 18, Devdutt made his debut for the Karnataka Ranji Trophy side, and the world saw a future superstar in him. Dismissed for just seven in his first innings, he bounced back in style, cracking a fluent half-century and finishing with a classy 77 in his debut match, a statement of intent from day one.
The state saw a future superstar, and the batter never looked back since then. Stepping into the white-ball format, the batter emerged as a hope who turned into a belief with time. From the 50-over format to the shortest format, but it was the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy that truly revealed his hunger, showing how desperation and desire can unlock a player’s very best.
From red-ball format to the white-ball thrills, he swung his bat everywhere, and the game rewarded him for being too perfect in everything. Quiet on the outside but burning within, the introverted left-hander finally lived his IPL dream when Royal Challengers Bengaluru snapped him up at the IPL 2018 auctions.
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Momentum slips away, the world questions what he can do
Those who are unversed in cricket are not aware of how manifestation worked for Devdutt in the best possible way. His transition from an RCB fanboy to an RCB batter has turned out to be crazy. While rubbing shoulders with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, Padikkal dreamed boldly, and then matched those dreams with pure excellence.
After a record-breaking IPL debut season in 2020, he smashed his debut IPL hundred in IPL 2021 and shone like a golden sun in RCB’s red-hot jersey. But can a life be truly called legendary if greatness comes without any thorns along the way?
When the world thought RCB and Devdutt were the bond that would offer a great talent to the Indian cricket team, the franchise released him, and the Rajasthan Royals required him with a record salary. Every new chapter promises a fresh start, but life rarely follows the script, and the left-handed batter faced a shocking, unexpected downfall.
The first season with a different ‘Royals’ Devdutt’s form faced woes, but he battled with form and still carried it out with his excellence. Physical struggles hit hard, yet his spirit never broke as he fought against the odds. Still, even amidst the fight, the shadow of a potential downfall loomed large.
A trade to the Lucknow Super Giants came into a disguise of the biggest disappointment for the batter. While he thrived opening for RCB and shone at number three for RR, and did both effortlessly in domestic cricket, nothing seemed to click in LSG. The stage was set, yet fate refused to play in his favor.
From being a front-line batter, he moved to the impact player and eventually faced a snub from the playing XI. IPL 2024 turned out to be the lowest phase of his career as he scored 38 runs in seven matches with a highest score of just 13.
From being hailed as the next future superstar of Indian cricket to facing the harshest criticism, life took a forgettable turn. His strengths faltered, applause turned to whispers of doubt, and nothing seemed to click. Lost in a storm of questions, even a fighter like him may have wondered — what now?
Ashes forge a phoenix, setbacks shape a fearless warrior in Devdutt
When every opportunity feels like a Mirage, the hunger becomes the only bridge between redemption and heartbreak. Like a lion bruised in battle, you step back to strike harder, yet when your own obstacles become the fiercest enemy, the leap must be monumental. Devdutt followed the script, but the world witnessed his lost spark again.
In March 2024, he turned his biggest dream into reality, donning the iconic Test whites for India. Debut turned unforgettable with a half-century, and the youngster started regaining his lost throne slowly. Coming out of the toughest phase, Devdutt turned into something new, more fierce, more bold, and loaded with more perfection.
Being in contention with the longest format, he became a regular face in the India A side. Amidst all this, Karnataka remained his solid backbone, as he dazzled with sensational Ranji Trophy hundreds and record-breaking white-ball knocks. From red-ball mastery to white-ball fireworks, he proved he could do it all.
Grinding domestically, overlooked internationally — is Devdutt’s wait fair?
After knowing all the heroics, the unversed of cricket may think, if he is so effortlessly displaying excellence, being in India’s all-format plan is near. But everything doesn’t follow the nicest script just like a movie; even the brightest stars must navigate a long, testing journey. And that’s exactly the path Devdutt Padikkal had to endure.
Promises were made to the batter, but they remained empty words. When he travelled with the Indian side in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, fans wanted to see the left-handed batter dazzle in front of the Aussie challenge. The batter faced challenges, but from his own side. After being dismissed in 25 runs in the first Test, he was overlooked for the rest of the series.
Later on, he was in the squad for the home Test series against West Indies and South Africa. While the teams faced highs and lows, one thing stayed constant: Padikkal remained on the sidelines. People may point out his failures, but who climbed the steps towards greatness without being failed.
After making a debut in the T20I for India in 2021, his T20I career remained limited to just two matches. Yes, he stumbled, but who’s to say how far he could have soared with more chances?
The left-handed batter got a chance to don the Test and T20 journey, but the 50-over format is still a dream for him. Dream - because even after having some exceptional numbers in the List A cricket, he is just waiting, not on the sidelines, but for the contention. In 33 innings, he racked up 2,218 runs with 10 hundreds and 12 fifties, a record demanding attention.
Putting all records aside, Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive 147 against Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 was pure statement-making. Chasing down the mammoth total of 413 runs, he singlehandedly guided Karnataka to its best-ever List A win.
Devdutt needs the stage, and India needs his brilliance
In T20Is, the Men in Blue went through an overhaul, but Devdutt stood far. Even in Tests, he stayed close but distant from the playing XI, ticking every box and sometimes being too good without getting the call. Still, what truly sets him apart isn’t the noise; it’s his relentless, silent grind.
After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s Test retirements, Team India needs a number 3 replacement. Without the flickering chances, if he gets the constant backing, the Men in Blue will solve their number 3. Form can dip, but numbers don’t lie, and they scream ability.
A star doesn’t get born on the sidelines, as constant challenges, chances, and hunger can turn a player into a legend. A calm person off the field, who carries fire in the heart, beneath the smile, there is a story of some toughest battles he fought silently.
And when the boy who once dreamed of the India jersey finally lived his Test debut, it wasn’t just a moment; it was the reward for every step of grit he took. Opportunities are not favoured; they are earned. Without constant backing, even rare talent risks being wasted; that’s the brutal truth.
As the next generation of cricketers is taking over the Indian cricket team, the side needs a batter like Devdutt, and he needs a stage powered by belief. Give him trust, and the talent will speak for itself. Every time he takes the field, Indian fans will shout harder, saying, “Chase It Hard, Devdutt! Your Story Has Just Begun, India Believes in You.”
