Devdutt Padikkal reacts for the first time after being picked in the Indian Test team
Devdutt Padikkal has got his maiden Test call-up for the national team after KL Rahul was declared unfit for the third Test of the five-match series between India and England.
The Karnataka batter got the opportunity after smashing a brilliant century in the Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu in the presence of chief selector Ajit Agarkar. He made his India debut in 2021 when he played two T20Is against Sri Lanka and since then he has been aloof of the national team’s dugout.
Devdutt Padikkal is having a terrific year as he has been one of the best performers in the Ranji Trophy for Karnataka. He has amassed 556 runs in just six innings at an enormous average of 92.67 which includes three centuries.
Padikkal will be replacing KL Rahul in the squad but a debut for him in the third Test is a bit far-sighted given Sarafaraz Khan is already in the squad before him and has made his way to the Indian team after some exceptional performances with the bat.
Talking to the media about his Test call-up, Devdutt Padikkal was ecstatic and said that he still can’t believe that he was selected in the Indian Test squad for the third Test against England.
He was very proud of himself for the hard work he had done throughout the years and thanked his family for always being there for him. He also faced some tough times in between his T20I debut and this Test match call-up.
“The call-up is yet to sink in. The Test team is always a dream, and this has come after a tough few years. I feel very proud that all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off. Can’t thank my family and well-wishers enough for sticking by me,” said Devdutt Padikkal.
Devdutt Padikkal Suffered An Intestinal Issue Which Hampered His 2022
An intestinal issue forced him to miss the entire Vijay Hazare Trophy and he also struggled in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season. He lost 10 kilos due to his illness and he spoke about it stating that it was one of the biggest challenges for him as he had to regain his physicality and take a proper diet to gain some muscles in the body. He also talked about every match being important for him at this stage of his career.
“Returning from the illness was very tough. The biggest challenge was to get physically fit. I had lost 10 kilos and I had to eat right and concentrate on regaining muscle and strength. At this stage of my career, every match counts and here I was missing a lot of games,” said Padikkal.
“It was disturbing because there was a lot of competition. While it was challenging, I had to stay focused on doing well when I returned. I worked really hard. I began the season with the determination of winning as many matches as possible for Karnataka,” he added.
Devdutt Padikkal may not make his debut in the third Test but an opportunity to wear the Test jersey will give a lot of positive hopes to the lad and he will be soon rewarded for his years of hard work. India and England will play the third Test of the five-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot commencing on February 15, Thursday.
