Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal recorded a fine comeback to the India A circuit in Lucknow on Friday, cracking his seventh First-Class century against Australia A.
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 to the visitor’s tall first-innings score of 532/6 decl. He later went past 3000-run mark in First Class cricket in his 74th innings. The 25-year-old Padikkal is featuring in only his second competitive game since May in the IPL 2025 season for champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The southpaw marked his FC comeback with a half-century and an unbeaten 16 in the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Bengaluru earlier this month before being picked for the India A assignment.
After cracking a half-century on his Test debut in Dharamsala against England last year, Padikkal only featured in one more match during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener against Austalia in Perth in 2024. After falling for a 23-ball duck and scoring 25 in the second innings, Padikkal was omitted from the XI for the remainder of the tour before being overlooked for India’s tour of England in June this year.
Batting at No. 4, Padikkal forged a sturdy partnership with India A wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel on Day 2 and raised a double-century stand for the fifth wicket.
Jurel’s 2nd FC ton
Jurel put up a commanding show to lead India A’s strong reply against Australia A in the first unofficial Test at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium on Thursday. With Padikkal being solid at one end, Jurel once again showed why he remains the next best wicketkeeper behind Rishabh Pant. Having made strong calls for his inclusion as a specialist batsman even with Pant around, this was another knock where he made a strong case. Despite the pressure firmly on the hosts, he launched a stunning counter-attack scoring 10 boundaries and four sixes in all.
The UP wicketkeeper brought up his century off 114 deliveries. His three sixes came in the V, while his 10 boundaries were spread across the park with six of them coming between deep square-leg and mid-wicket. He was particularly severe on off-spinner Rocchiccioli, taking him for 47 runs off just 46 deliveries including three sixes.
