‘You have to make peace and keep scoring runs’ - Padikkal reflects on India ODI snub

Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal has been in sensational form in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing over 600 runs in the tournament. Despite his sublime touch in the one-day format, a spot in India’s ODI squad has continued to elude him. Breaking into India’s white-ball setup remains a daunting challenge given the intense competition for places, even for players who perform consistently.

Rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, Padikkal maintains a remarkably grounded perspective on the selection process. He acknowledges the fierce competition within the national setup and believes patience is an essential quality for any professional athlete striving to succeed at the highest level.

"I wouldn't say it was disappointing. Yes, I was looking at the selection and seeing what would come out. But at the same time, I understood that there are so many batters in the line and everyone has been doing really well. And it's not that easy to push into that one-day side,” said Padikkal to the Indian Express.

"And again, that's something that, as cricketers, you have to make peace with. And you have to just try and do your job and keep scoring runs," he added.

While Devdutt Padikkal’s foundation was rooted in the traditional virtues of the longest format, the fast-paced demands of the Indian Premier League (IPL) required a clear shift in his approach. Transitioning from a classical batting style to a high-strike-rate T20 game was a deliberate, well-coached process, aimed at adapting his skill set to the modern demands of white-ball cricket.

"As I have grown up wanting to play Test cricket, my game was moulded in a certain way. It was definitely a challenge when I had to make those adjustments to make sure that I am keeping up with the current way T20 cricket is played," said Padikkal.

The left-hander credits much of this evolution to the support staff during his time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While T20 cricket demands maximisation, the one-day format is more about rhythm. Padikkal believes he has discovered a natural pattern in 50-over cricket, enabling him to anchor innings effectively while still maintaining the ability to apply pressure when needed.

"To be honest, all the credit for that goes to DK (Dinesh Karthik) and Andy (Flower) at RCB. To be honest, the way they helped me through that phase and helped me understand how I can maximise my game in the T20 format helped me a lot in terms of understanding what I needed to do. Earlier, because I was so used to playing in the power play, I was not really thinking about playing that phase after 7-14,” said Padikkal.

"In one-dayers, it's all about that tempo and that pattern. Luckily for me, I found that pretty early in my 50-over career and I really understand how to build my innings. And I feel that's helped me a lot throughout the career that I have had in 50-overs so far," he added.

Padikkal’s tactical approach in the one-day format is straightforward yet effective. He acknowledges that taking time to settle with the new ball gradually shifts pressure onto the bowlers. He adapts his game according to the situation, whether batting first or chasing, ensuring that his innings remain both steady and impactful.

"It's pretty straightforward for me. It's all about fighting that new ball initially and then after that, putting some pressure back on the bowler and then playing according to the situation. That's how it always goes pretty much especially when you are batting first. And when you are batting second, obviously you can adapt your game according to the score," said Padikkal.