RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal says this bowler was most challenging to face in IPL 2020

Padikkal made 473 runs in his debut IPL season with a record 5 fifties.

One can say that without a doubt, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Devdutt Padikkal was the find of the IPL 2020 tournament. The Karnataka left-handed opener set his maiden IPL stint on fire with 473 runs in an impressive fashion.

Everyone was impressed with the 20-year-old’s solid technique, temperament, and ability to provide good starts to his team consistently. His form was the key to RCB making it into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. He slammed five fifties in IPL 2020 to claim the record for most fifties by an uncapped batsman in his debut season.

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The IPL 2020 proved to be trial by fire for Padikkal, as he had to face some of the best bowlers of the world to prove his mettle and score runs against. In an interview, the opener was asked about which bowler did he found the most challenging to face in the IPL 13.

Being an opener, Padikkal was expected to name the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, and Kagiso Rabada among others; but he surprised everyone with his choice, as he went for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s star spinner Rashid Khan.

He said that Rashid was difficult to pick because of the pace at which he bowled his googlies and leg-spin.

"Pace, not really because there are quite a few bowlers who are pretty quick in the domestic circuit as well. Probably the one bowler I felt was challenging was [legspinner] Rashid Khan because he has a really good pace and turns the ball at the same time. He's not easy to pick. I think while facing him I felt like, "Okay, this is something I'm not used to," Padikkal told ESPNCricinfo in an interview.

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The left-hander is focused on his dream of playing for India and wants to grab the opportunities with both hands when they come his way.

"Now the next step would be to play for the country. It's something everyone dreams of as a cricketer, so I'm looking forward to doing that soon. I'll continue to work on my game, continue to improve, and, whenever I get the opportunity, I'll take it with both hands," said Padikkal.