Captain Devdutt Padikkal dominated Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy as Karnataka firmed their grip on a spot in the final on Tuesday, February 17. Batting at No. 3, Padikkal sent a strong message to the selectors, scoring a career-best 232 as Karnataka piled up a massive total of 736 at the Ekana Stadium.
Padikkal’s marathon 330-ball innings featured 29 boundaries and three sixes. Alongside him, Smaran Ravichandran scored 135 off 216 balls, helping Karnataka reach a mammoth total that Uttarakhand are unlikely to surpass.
The Karnataka captain has been one of the most reliable performers this Ranji season. In the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy so far, he has played five matches and scored 532 runs at an average of 66.50. It is not only in the Ranji Trophy that he has delivered — Padikkal has been consistent across formats this season. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed 725 runs in nine matches, finishing as the second-highest run-getter in the recently concluded edition.
Ranji Trophy: Karnataka Rip Into Uttarakhand
Karnataka, who had closed Day 2 at a commanding 689 for six after batting for two full days, opted not to declare on Day 3, with overnight batters Ravichandran Smaran and Vidyadhar Patil continuing their innings. The team eventually folded for 736, having batted a massive 195 overs.
The move appeared designed not only to further demoralise the opposition but also to eliminate any chance of losing the contest, maintaining complete control of the game.
Smaran (121 not out overnight) and Patil (35 not out overnight) added 28 runs before the former was dismissed for 135. Patil went on to reach a half-century, finishing with 54 off 114 balls. Most of his runs came through singles and twos, with two boundaries and a six to his name.
The dismissals of Smaran and Patil brought an end to Karnataka’s innings, which had been built around a stellar 141 from opener KL Rahul and a commanding 232 from skipper Devdutt Padikkal, setting up their dominant position in the match.
Faced with the gargantuan first-innings total, Uttarakhand were left reeling at 149 for 5, still trailing by 587 runs against the eight-time champions.
Uttarakhand’s teenage right-arm pacer Aditya Rawat claimed four wickets for 154 runs, while veteran spinner Mayank Mishra picked up three for 173. However, their efforts could not mask the overall ineffectiveness of the bowling attack, as Karnataka’s batters dominated throughout.
With two full days still remaining, Karnataka could enforce the follow-on and push for an innings victory, giving them ample time to seal a comprehensive win.
On the same wicket, Karnataka’s bowlers, led by pacer Vidyadhar Patil (2/26), made early inroads, dismissing openers Bhupen Lalwani (15) and Prashant Chopra (5) to reduce Uttarakhand to 37 for 2.
The pressure intensified as the score became 81 for 4 before a brief resistance from Lakshya Raichandani (52 not out off 166 balls) and Jagadeesha Suchith (21) added 43 runs for the fifth wicket to take them to 124.
However, the fightback was cut short when Suchith was clean-bowled by Prasidh Krishna, leaving Uttarakhand struggling at 124 for 5. Lakshya and Saurabh Rawat (10 not out) survived the remainder of the day, ensuring Uttarakhand will resume on the fourth day with their hopes hanging by a thread.
Why Devdutt Padikkal?
Padikkal made his Test debut in 2024 against England in Dharamsala, scoring 65 runs. After that appearance, he was sidelined for several months. In his second Test, during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth, he struggled, scoring 0 and 25. One possible reason for that underwhelming outing could have been his limited exposure to red-ball cricket at the highest level.
While his tour of Australia was forgettable, Padikkal impressed in the Indian Premier League. Adopting a new role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he scored 247 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 150, significantly higher than in his previous IPL campaigns.
This new-age aggression has been complemented by consistency in the ongoing domestic season, where he has scored 532 runs in the Ranji Trophy and a remarkable 725 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
For the first time in his career, Padikkal has combined clear intent with substantial returns.
India’s Search for No. 3
With the Indian Test side still searching for a settled No. 3 batter, Devdutt Padikkal could emerge as a strong contender for the role. The No. 3 position is one of the most crucial in the batting order, and following India’s recent home Test series defeats, discussions have intensified over who is best suited to anchor that spot.
With Shubman Gill moving to No. 4, India experimented with Sai Sudharsan at No. 3. However, he was unable to cement the position, both during the tour of England and in the home season.
In the Test series against South Africa, India first promoted Washington Sundar to the role before reverting to Sudharsan, highlighting the uncertainty around the position. India lost both matches, which could prompt selectors to search for a more stable option.
This is where Padikkal presents himself as a safer and more structured choice. The 25-year-old has delivered consistent performances across formats in recent months, strengthening his case for a Test recall. Comparisons with Sai Sudharsan are inevitable, especially since both prefer batting at No. 3. With Sai missing recent Ranji Trophy fixtures, Padikkal has stepped up with impactful performances at the domestic level.
These developments could significantly boost his chances of featuring in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after IPL 2026.
