Captain Devdutt Padikkal dominated Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy as Karnataka sealed their place in the final on Tuesday, February 17. Padikkal, batting at No. 3, sent a strong message to the selectors, hitting a career-best 232 as Karnataka piled up a mammoth 736 at the Ekana Stadium.
Padikkala’s marathon innings of 330 balls featured 29 boundaries and three sixes. Alongside him, Smaran Ravichandran scored 135 off 216 balls to help Karnataka post a mammoth total that Uttarakhand are unlikely to surpass.
The Karnataka captain has been one of the most reliable players in this Ranji season. He has played five matches so far in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 and has scored 532 runs at an average of 66.50. It’s not just the Ranji Trophy that he has handed over – Padikkal has been consistent across formats this season. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he amassed 725 runs in nine matches and finished as the second highest run-getter in the recently concluded edition.
Ranji Trophy: Karnataka Rip Into Uttarakhand
Karnataka, who ended Day 2 on a commanding 689 for six after batting for two full days, opted not to declare on Day 3 with night batsmen Ravichandran Smaran and Vidyadhar Patil continuing their innings. The team eventually bowled out for 736 after batting a massive 195 overs.
The move seemed designed not only to further demoralize the opposition but also to eliminate any chance of losing the contest and maintain 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 got to his half-century and finished with 54 off 114 balls. Most of his runs came in singles and doubles, with two boundaries and a six.
The dismissals of Smaran and Patil ended Karnataka’s innings, which was built around a stellar 141 from opener KL Rahul and a commanding 232 from skipper Devdutt Padikkal, establishing their dominant position in the match.
Facing a huge first innings tally, Uttarakhand were left at 149 for 5, still 587 runs behind against the eight-time champions.
Uttarakhand’s teenage right-hander Aditya Rawat claimed four wickets for 154 runs while veteran spinner Mayank Mishra took three for 173. However, their efforts could not mask the overall ineffectiveness of the bowling attack as the Karnataka batting dominated throughout.
With two full days still to go, Karnataka could push for a follow-on and aim for an innings win, giving them plenty of time to seal a comprehensive victory.
In the same wicket, the Karnataka bowlers, led by pacer Vidyadhar Patil (2/26), came into their own early as they dismissed openers Bhupen Lalwani (15) and Prashant Chopra (5) to reduce Uttarakhand to 37 for 2.
The pressure mounted as the score became 81 for 4 before Lakshya Raichandani (52 off 166 balls) stood up briefly and Jagadeesha Suchith (21) added 43 runs for the fifth wicket to take them to 124.
However, the fight was broken up when Suchith was clean-balled by Prasidh Krishna, leaving Uttarakhand struggling at 124 for 5. Lakshya and Saurabh Rawat (10 not out) survived the rest of the day and ensured that Uttarakhand continued on the fourth day with their hopes hanging in the balance.
Why Devdutt Padikkal?
Padikkal made his Test debut in 2024 against England in Dharamsala where he scored 65 runs. He was sidelined for several months after this performance. 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 this underwhelming output could have been his limited exposure to top-level red-ball cricket.
While his tour of Australia was memorable, Padikkal has impressed in the Indian Premier League. Accepting the new role at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he has scored 247 runs in 10 matches with a success rate of 150, significantly more than 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 significant returns.
India are looking for No.3
With the Indian Test side still looking for a consistent No.3 batsman, Devdutt Padikkal could prove to be a strong contender for the role. The No.3 position is one of the most important in the batting order, and after India’s recent home Test series defeats, discussions have intensified as to who is best suited to anchor the spot.
With Shubman Gill moved to No.4, India experimented with Sai Sudharsan at No.3. However, he failed to consolidate his position, both during the tour of England and in the domestic season.
In the Test series against South Africa, India first promoted Washington Sundar to the role before reverting to Sudharsan, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the position. India lost both matches, which may have prompted the selectors to look for a more stable option.
This is where Padikkal presents itself as a safer and more structured option. The 25-year-old has produced consistent performances across formats in recent months, strengthening his claim for a Test recall. Comparisons with Sai Sudharsan are inevitable, especially as both prefer to bat at No. 3. With Sai missing the last few Ranji Trophy matches, Padikkal has stepped up with impressive performances at the domestic level.
This development could significantly boost his chances of featuring in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka after IPL 2026.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
February 17, 2026