Kohli overtaken: India star shines in Vijay Hazare, stakes Champions Trophy claim after test snub

The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is holding off on announcing India’s Champions Trophy squad until the end of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But with each passing day, the committee faces increasing selection dilemmas. One key contender emerging from the tournament is Devdutt Padikkal. On Wednesday, the Karnataka batter delivered yet another impressive performance, scoring his seventh consecutive fifty-plus score in the competition.

Karnataka chased down a modest target of 238 set by their opponents at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. However, the chase started off rocky, with captain Mayank Agarwal falling early in the first over. Pacer Anshul Kamboj’s low delivery trapped Agarwal in front of the wicket.

Padikkal, who had recently returned from the Australian tour, came to the rescue. He scored 86 runs and formed a solid partnership with Smaran (76), putting on a crucial 128-run stand for the third wicket. Karnataka ultimately reached their target with 16 balls to spare, finishing at 238 for five.

Padikkal’s knock not only powered Karnataka to the final but also helped him achieve a personal milestone. He crossed 2000 runs in List A cricket, and his impressive average of 82.38 is now the highest among batters with at least 2000 runs in the format. He surpassed notable names like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Michael Bevan, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers in the process.

Padikkal’s consistency has been remarkable. This current streak of seven consecutive fifty-plus scores matches his achievement from the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy season. His scores so far in this stretch are: 86, 102, 114, 93*, 70, 117, and 71*.

After the Sydney Test match, Padikkal rejoined the Karnataka team and made an immediate impact. He scored a brilliant 102 from 99 balls in the quarterfinal against Baroda, marking his first appearance in the format since 2023. Padikkal had earlier traveled to Australia with the India A team, where he impressed the senior management with an 88-run knock in Mackay. Although he was later called up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, his stint with the senior team was brief. He played just one match in Perth, scoring 0 and 25.

Though Padikkal’s chances for a Champions Trophy spot are a long shot, his consistent performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy make a strong case for a backup position in the squad. However, he will face stiff competition from established top-order options like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who are both vying for the opening spot in India’s playing XI for the tournament.

As the selection committee prepares to finalize the squad, Padikkal’s continued excellence in the Vijay Hazare Trophy could make him an important contender for a spot in the Champions Trophy.