Devdutt Padikkal Becomes The First Indian In 10 Years To Hit 50 On IPL Debut

Oh, Devdutt Padikkal! What a way to announce yourself on the world stage! The talented Karnataka swashbuckler had come into the Dream11 IPL on the back of an astounding exploits in the 2019 domestic season, where he top-scored in both Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and Vijay Hazare 50-over tournament, and he made sure he further enhanced his reputation courtesy a whirlwind half-century in the debut.

And, by doing that, the southpaw has become the eighth Indian batsman and the first after Kedar Jadhav [in 2010] to score an IPL half-century on his debut. Of course, this is not the first time that Padikkal has turned heads on his debut. He has scored a half-century in each of First-Class, List-A, T20 debut.

Half century in his Debut IPL at the age of 20

Devdutt Padikkal – Trained under Rahul Dravid in U-19 worldcup ? #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->S<!---->R<!---->H p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->V<!---->R<!---->f<!---->H<!---->S<!---->y<!---->r<!---->l<!---->n<!---->n

— Mokka Memes (@MokkaMemes_) S<!---->e<!---->p<!---->t<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Devdutt Padikkal teed off right from the very outset, smoking the SRH fast bowlers to all corners of the stadium, even as Aaron Finch played second fiddle to the young southpaw. The prime feature of Devdutt Padikkal’s assault was how still his head was while stroking those boundaries. Anything that was short was dispatched over mid-wicket; anything on a fullish length was smoked over extra-cover or straight over the bowler’s head.

Devdutt Padikkal:

Fifty on First-class debut ✅
Fifty on List-A debut ✅
Fifty on T20 debut ✅
Fifty on IPL debut ✅

Serious talent! #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0#<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->s<!---->S<!---->R<!---->H

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) S<!---->e<!---->p<!---->t<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0

Devdutt Padikkal’s onslaught ensured that RCB racked up 53 runs in the powerplay. The southpaw reached his debut 50 courtesy a slog sweep off Vijay Shankar in 39 balls. Shankar, however, had the last laugh as he dismissed the dangerous-looking Padikkal on 53 in the same over.

Also Read- IPL 2020: ‘Next Yuvraj Singh’: Twitter Lavishes Praise On Devdutt Padikkal After He Scores Impressive Fifty On Debut

List of players to score 50+ on IPL debut:

2008:
McCullum
M Hussey
Hopes
Sangakkara
Dhawan
Gambhir
G Smith
Asnodkar
S Marsh
Vidyut
S Goswami

2009 – Warner

2010:
Owais Shah
Rayudu
K Jadhav
Collingwood

2012 – Levi

2016 – Billings

2020:
DEVDUTT PADIKKAL#<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0 #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->S<!---->R<!---->H

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) S<!---->e<!---->p<!---->t<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->2<!---->1<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->0