Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal made an impressive return to the India A setup in Lucknow on Friday, scoring his seventh First-Class century against Australia A. Starting the day on 86, Padikkal raced to his century in just 20 balls on the fourth morning as India A inched closer to the visitors’ imposing first-innings total of 532/6 declared.
He also crossed the 3,000-run milestone in First-Class cricket during his 74th innings. The 25-year-old is playing only his second competitive match since May, having featured in the IPL 2025 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Padikkal had signaled his First-Class comeback earlier this month in the Duleep Trophy semi-final in Bengaluru, scoring a half-century and an unbeaten 16, before earning his place in the India A squad.
After scoring a half-century on his Test debut in Dharamsala against England last year, Padikkal played just one more match during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 opener against Australia in Perth. He managed a 23-ball duck in the first innings and 25 runs in the second before being dropped from the playing XI for the rest of the series. He was also left out of India’s squad for the England tour in June this year.
Jurel Scores His Second First-Class Century
Jurel delivered a masterful performance to anchor India A’s strong response against Australia A in the first unofficial Test at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium on Thursday. With Devdutt Padikkal steady at the other end, Jurel once again proved why he is considered the next best wicketkeeper after Rishabh Pant.
Having previously campaigned for his inclusion as a specialist batsman even with Pant in the team, Jurel made another compelling case with this innings. Under significant pressure, he launched a brilliant counter-attack, striking 10 boundaries and four sixes.
The Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper reached his century off 114 balls. Three of his sixes were in the V, while his 10 boundaries were spread across the field, six of them between deep square-leg and mid-wicket. He particularly targeted off-spinner Rocchiccioli, scoring 47 runs off just 46 deliveries, including three sixes.
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