Ranji Trophy | Devdutt Padikkal’s incredible century powers Karnataka into quarterfinals
Devdutt Padikkal’s captaincy tenure was off to a blockbuster beginning as he conjured a splendid century (120 n.o., 85b, 6×4, 5×6) to power Karnataka to a phenomenal five-wicket win over Punjab at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium here on Sunday.
After three-and-a-half days of slow-burn cricket, the visitors were set an improbable 250-run target off 40 overs to ensure qualification for the Ranji Trophy knockouts. But Karnataka took less than 28 overs to script an electric finish and set up a quarterfinal date with Mumbai. The result meant Saurashtra, which had beaten Chandigarh in the neighbouring Sector-16 stadium to move into second spot in Elite Group-B on Saturday, will miss out.
Niraj Odedra, Saurashtra’s head coach, rushed to the PCA Stadium post-tea in the hope of confirming his team’s qualification. He would have left doffing his hat to Padikkal’s miraculous act.
Padikkal, 25, who was promoted to the leadership role after the recent 217-run drubbing to Madhya Pradesh under Mayank Agarwal, led by example. He opened the batting in place of Mayank, built a tone-setting 76-ball 113-run partnership with his senior for the second wicket, and helped negotiate a middle-order wobble. Under fast-dying daylight, the southpaw put on 51 unbroken runs (28 balls) with Vidyadhar Patil (14 n.o., 10b, 1×6), of which he accounted for 34 runs from 18.
There was indeed an element of luck. Padikkal reached his half-century when the fielder who caught him near the boundary stepped over. But his intent was unquestionable and it reflected in the shots he played – a straight six to move into the 70s; another fiery maximum to go into the 80s, and two outstanding cuts to enter the 90s and reach his eighth First Class ton.
Punjab even tried some fairly obvious – and borderline distasteful – time-wasting tactics. But nothing could thwart Karnataka. Shreyas Gopal played a huge hand too, scoring a brisk 22-ball 33. His miserly figures (21-6-43-3) were instrumental in Punjab being dismissed for 256 second-innings runs from an overnight 119 for three. It kept his side in the hunt and Padikkal did the rest.
The scores: Punjab — 1st innings: 309.
Karnataka — 1st innings: 316.
Punjab — 2nd innings: Abhijeet Garg c Prasidh b Shreyas 33, Prabhsimran Singh lbw b Shikhar 11, Uday Saharan b Shikhar 93, Jashanpreet Singh c Rahul b Mohsin 5, Anmolpreet Singh c Smaran b Shreyas 44, Anmol Malhotra c Kruthik b Shreyas 16, Emanjot Chahal b Prasidh 11, Harpreet Brar c Kruthik b Prasidh 29, Ayush Goyal c Rahul b Vidyadhar 7, Sukhdeep Bajwa c Shreyas b Prasidh 1, Anmoljeet Singh (not out) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-1, nb-1): 6; Total (in 101 overs): 256.
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-70, 3-87, 4-176, 5-202, 6-209, 7-215, 8-237, 9-252.
Karnataka bowling: Shikhar 33-8-82-2, Vidyadhar 12-2-32-1, Prasidh 16-5-49-3, Shreyas 21-6-43-3, Mohsin 19-5-45-1.
Karnataka — 2nd innings: K.L. Rahul c Anmolpreet b Bajwa 13, Devdutt Padikkal (not out) 120; Mayank Agarwal b Emanjot 53, K.V. Aneesh c Anmol b Anmoljeet 1, R. Smaran c Jashanpreet b Emanjot 1, Shreyas Gopal st. Anmol b Anmoljeet 33, Vidyadhar Patil (not out) 14; Extras (b-6, lb-4, nb-1, w-6): 17; Total (for five wickets in 27.5 overs): 252.
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-130, 3-133, 4-134, 5-201.
Punjab bowling: Bajwa 8.5-0-81-1, Harpreet 6-0-55-0, Anmoljeet 9-0-66-2, Emanjot 4-0-40-2.
Published – February 01, 2026 10:45 pm IST
