Ranji Trophy: With chairman of selectors watching on, Devdutt Padikkal continues superb form to put Karnataka in front against TN

As Devdutt Padikkal stroked his way through for an unbeaten 151, you could well hear him knocking on the national selection doors again.

Watched by the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar from the stands, the left-hander’s third century of this Ranji Trophy season took Karnataka to 288/5 against Tamil Nadu on Day 1 of the sixth round fixture at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

On a day where the temperatures flirted between early to mid-thirties, in testing conditions against a bowling line-up that has taken 60 wickets in the last three matches, it was Padikkal’s knock that flattened Tamil Nadu. And it was a timely one too, as it also gives the national selectors another option to consider for the Test team — that has plenty of batting concerns to address – going forward. That Padikkal is making all these runs at No 3 and offers something different by virtue of being a left-hander means there is an in-form batter waiting in the wings in case India are to look beyond Shubman Gill.

After starting the Ranji season with 193 against Punjab, he scored 103 against Goa. Before taking the trip to Chennai, Padikkal also scored 105, 65 & 21 in his three innings for India A in the two unofficial Tests against England Lions. The consistency that was missing in his game in the last couple of seasons is very much back.

From the time he walked in the middle of the first session at No 3, Padikkal was all purpose and intent. On a red-soil pitch that has variable bounce, for Karnataka to make their decision to bat first productive, they needed Padikkal to shine.

Tamil Nadu, who have two left-arm spinners in their ranks, were bound to cause trouble to Karnataka’s batting unit, which has five right-handers in their top six. Under the circumstances, Padikkal came with a plan – to put early pressure on the TN attack.