Devdutt Padikkal’s career-best First Class innings of 193 (216b, 24x4, 4x6), against Punjab in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy opener here on Saturday, couldn’t have come at a better time.
The knock not only put his side in a dominating position, it also helped banish painful memories from last season when he missed the first four matches tending to an intestinal issue that had required multiple hospital visits.
“That period was pretty frustrating more than anything else,” Padikkal said after the day’s play. “I knew that I was batting pretty well before that and it so happened that I wasn’t able to contribute to my side.
