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Devdutt Padikkal has as strong a case as Jaiswal to make it to the ODI side

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Last updated on 16 Jan 2025 | 02:16 PM
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Devdutt Padikkal has as strong a case as Jaiswal to make it to the ODI side

Devdutt Padikkal became the fastest batter to get to 2000 List A runs, getting there in just 31 innings

Player A: 32 innings, 1511 runs, 53.96 average, 86.19 SR

Player B: 31 innings, 2063 runs, 82.52 average, 91.20 SR

One of them is getting a deserved call-up to the Indian ODI squad. The other will most likely be ignored yet again despite posting crazy numbers in India’s domestic cricket. 

It is almost impossible for you to guess who is who if not for the title. 

Player A is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who finally has a strong chance of making his ODI debut in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Player B -- Devdutt Padikkal might miss out despite another amazing season. 

It is hard to argue a case against Jaiswal, but Padikkal’s numbers have been so RIDICULOUSLY GOOD over the past 48 months that statistically, he’s head and shoulders above Jaiswal. 

Why Padikkal should make it to India's ODI squad?

The 24-year-old has been on one of the hottest streaks in Indian cricket, with scores of 86, 102, 114, 93*, 70, and 117 across his last six innings, spanning two seasons of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (2023/24 & 2024/25).

Since the start of November 2023, only two players in the country have averaged more than 100 in the domestic one-day competition - Karun Nair (149) and Padikkal (130.6) - and one of them is still on the lips of a lot of critics to be included in the Indian setup.

Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar and Yashasvi Jaiswal for India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25

But what Padikkal is doing is even more stunning with an improved range in terms of clearing the boundaries, hitting 30 sixes across his last seven games, averaging nearly 5 sixes a game. 

Quite shocking, right? 

The Karnataka batter's run-scoring streak isn’t shocking; it is the fact that he’s unlocked a gear that no one really predicted. He still scored 1410 runs and averaged 70.5 but wasn’t clearing boundary ropes as clinically. 

Until then, the left-hander had scored 32 sixes, averaging close to just above one six a game. But then the transformation happened. 

Padikkal has the best-ever start in List A cricket

Not just that, Padikkal’s crazy start to his List A career isn’t just the best in India (of course, that goes without even saying) but the best ever in the history of the game. The left-hander got to 2,000 List A runs in just 31 innings, six lesser than the likes of Sam Hain and Daniel Hughes.

Padikkal is the quickest to 2000 List A runs in history

Such a start has rarely happened in List A history; quite frankly, it might not even happen soon. It doesn’t stop there. Padikkal has the best average for any batter in List A history (min 2000 runs). 

No one would have imagined Michael Bevan, Virat Kohli, and Padikkal on the same list. He isn’t just on the list but sped past the likes of Bevan and Kohli with an average of 82.52. There is a difference of almost 45% between Kohli and Padikkal. 

Highest average in List A cricket (min 2000 runs)

82.52 - Devdutt Padikkal*

57.88 - Daniel Hughes

57.86 - Michael Bevan

57.76 - Sam Hain

57.05 - Virat Kohli

Padikkal's 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy 

Straight out of Australia, Padikkal has just played two games for Karnataka, out of which he has already scored a 99-ball 102 against Baroda, a tricky opponent and a 113-ball 86 against Haryana. 

Across these two games, the Karnataka man has already shown a difference in his range. In one, he helped Karnataka set up a big total, striking 17 boundaries, and in the other, he helped them chase down a tricky target in conditions where bowlers were in the game. 

Devdutt Padikkal during India's squad for England series

What was common, though, across the two knocks was that Padikkal was spending a lot of time at the crease, as exhibited by his entry and exit points - 31.1 overs and 39.4 overs. It is no shock that Karnataka have been on the winning side across the last seven games, where he’s scored runs. 

"It's a format I enjoy batting in, whenever I come back to bat for Karnataka it's always a pleasure. Look to get on the front foot, it was keeping low and both me and Smaran were able to get the singles away and keep the scorecard going,” Padikkal said after the semi-final against Haryana. 

“Try to move your body towards the ball, if you hang back then you will be in trouble and I felt that he [Smaran] batted beautifully through that phase. It's always great to have that [100] but as long as Karnataka is winning I'm happy," Padikkal added. 

There’s nothing Jaiswal has done wrong, but Padikkal’s form is such that India can’t really ignore him.

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