A fit and rejuvenated Devdutt Padikkal is now raring to go and let his bat talking in the ongoing 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) after missing the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) opening game against Mumbai Indians (MI) due to COVID-19 “setback”.
The Karnataka batsman had contracted the COVID-19 on March 22 and was in isolation, though, he was completely recovered and resumed practice with his RCB teammates before the IPL 2021 opener between RCB and MI on April 9 but was medically advised to rest for the game last week.
Well now, Padikkal is all set to play his first game in the IPL 14 when RCB would take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their second game in the tournament on April 14 in Chennai and the 20-year-old was confident of replicating his astounding domestic form in the ongoing IPL 2021.
Notably, the left-hander, who was RCB's highest run-getter with 473 runs including five half-centuries on his debut season last year, had a fantastic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – where he scored 218 runs at an average of 43.60 in six matches followed by Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 737 runs in 7 matches.
Padikkal said in a video shared by RCB on Twitter on Monday: “COVID was a setback. I wish that it didn't happen but that's something I couldn't control...I had to accept the way it was and just make sure that I kept myself fit so that when I come back I can be ready for the game.”
He added, “Right now I am completely fine, most importantly I am able to move around well, I am able to react to balls and that's the most important part...in IPL you always have to be ready, you always have to be 100 percent in every situation. Unless you are 100 percent, you can't really push yourself.
Last IPL was amazing for me. It was such a great experience and exposure for me, the opportunities I got and the fact that I was able to contribute to the side is all that matters in the end.”
On his domestic show this year, the opener added, “Mushtaq Ali was decent, not up to what I was expecting, and in Vijay Hazare, I was just looking to get back into my rhythm and focus on what I am doing and really improve my game every time I went out to bat. It was really great to have the runs behind me, so coming into IPL; I know that I am confident.”
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Padikkal said he can't wait to open alongside RCB captain Virat Kohli in the ongoing IPL 2021 as well as pick the brains of the experienced campaigners like AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell in the T20 league.
He further noted, “Definitely, it's something new...I am definitely looking forward to that. Batting with them (seniors) just takes the pressure off you. They are so good at what they do and they just make your job easier, know exactly what to do in every situation. So, it's important that I just make sure I am learning as much as possible.”
The ongoing IPL 2021 is being held behind closed doors due to an exponential surge in COVID-19 cases in India, though; Padikkal hopes the situation would improve and fans will come back to the grounds soon.
He signed off by saying, “It's definitely better with the fans because the energy they bring to the ground is something unimaginable. It would have been better with the fans in the ground and hopefully sooner than later it will happen.”
(With PTI Inputs)
