Ranji Trophy semifinal | Padikkal rates his ton against Punjab higher than the double against Uttarakhand

Devdutt Padikkal cannot enactment a ft wrong. On his captaincy debut a fortnight ago, helium scored a match-winning, fourth-innings period (120 n.o., 85b, 6x4, 5x6) versus Punjab to guarantee Ranji Trophy knock-outs qualification for Karnataka.

On time 2 of the semifinal against Uttarakhand, helium came up with an awesome double-century (232, 330b, 29x4, 3x6), his archetypal successful First Class cricket. “It’s the astir runs I’ve scored successful a Ranji game, but determination person been a fewer innings which were successful much hard circumstances,” Padikkal told reporters connected Monday.

“The Punjab 1 volition ever beryllium peculiar due to the fact that of the concern we were in. So this volition astir apt travel successful second.”

Though the Ekana Cricket Stadium transportation was batting-friendly, it was important for the 25-year-old not to beryllium complacent.

“You person to support reminding yourself that these opportunities don’t travel that often. You play connected a batch of challenging wickets during Ranji Trophy. So erstwhile you get a wicket that is suitable to bat, it’s important to currency in. I’m blessed that everyone successful the squad was switched on.”

Padikkal stated that the chastening 217-run reverse to Madhya Pradesh successful the penultimate group-stage crippled acted arsenic a affirmative trigger. “We were apical of the array coming into that game, but erstwhile you look a decision similar that astatine home, it tin spell some ways. You tin fto that deter you and not get backmost up. Or you tin bash what we did and reply the critics with our performance. And I’m gladsome that we’ve been capable to bash [the latter].”