The Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic one-day competition, is currently underway, serving as a crucial platform for cricketers to showcase their talent and stake a claim for a spot in the national team. Amidst the intense competition, one player has consistently stood out, creating an unprecedented record that has captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts and experts alike. Devdutt Padikkal, with his remarkable performances, has etched his name in the tournament's history books. However, despite his historic achievement and scintillating form, he continues to await a call-up to the Indian national squad, leaving many to ponder the criteria for selection and when the BCCI's selection committee will acknowledge his consistent brilliance.
Devdutt Padikkal Creates History
Devdutt Padikkal has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, often discussed for his elegant stroke play and ability to score big runs. Yet, opportunities to represent the Indian team have been limited for the talented left-handed batsman. In the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, Padikkal has once again demonstrated his prowess, achieving a unique milestone that no other batsman has managed before. He has become the first and only player to score more than 600 runs in three different seasons of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while this remarkable feat underscores his consistency, hunger for runs, and ability to perform under pressure across multiple editions of the tournament. His journey to this record began in the 2019-20 season, where he amassed an impressive 609 runs, while he then elevated his game further in the 2020-21 season, scoring a magnificent 737 runs. Now, in the 2025-26 season, he has once again crossed the 605-run mark, completing this historic hat-trick and solidifying his status as one of the most prolific run-scorers in the tournament's history.
Stellar Performance Against Rajasthan
On Tuesday, Devdutt Padikkal took to the field for a crucial Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Rajasthan. Opening the innings, he played a blistering knock, scoring 91 runs off just 82 balls, while although he narrowly missed out on a well-deserved century, falling short by just 9 runs, his innings was a testament to his aggressive yet controlled batting. During his innings, Padikkal hit 12 boundaries and two towering sixes, keeping the opposition bowlers under constant pressure and setting a strong foundation for his team. While a century eluded him in this particular match, it was another strong indicator of his exceptional current form. In fact, in his last six innings in the same tournament, Devdutt Padikkal has already registered four centuries, showcasing his incredible purple patch, while he has been dismissed for less than 50 runs only once in this impressive run, highlighting his remarkable consistency and ability to convert starts into substantial scores.
Awaiting India Call-Up
Despite his stellar performances in domestic cricket, Devdutt Padikkal's international career has been limited so far. He has played only two Test matches for India, scoring 90 runs, and two T20 International matches, where he accumulated 38 runs, while notably, he's yet to make his One Day International (ODI) debut for the national team, which has been a point of contention among his followers. Given his current form and the historic record he has set in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,. There was considerable anticipation that he might be selected for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. However, much to the surprise of many, the selectors didn't include him in the squad, leading to widespread discussions about the selection process. Devdutt Padikkal is consistently performing and making a strong case for his inclusion in the Indian team through his prolific run-scoring. The cricketing fraternity now eagerly awaits to see when the BCCI's selection committee will take notice of his outstanding contributions and provide him with the opportunity to showcase his talent on the international ODI stage.
