“It’s not been up to the standards that I would have hoped for” - Devdutt Padikkal on inconsistent run in IPL 2023

Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Devdutt Padikkal has admitted that he is not satisfied with his performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He pointed out at the same time that he is still very young and is trying to learn and improve with every season that he features in.

Padikkal was the Player of the Match for his 51 off 30 balls as RR beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by four wickets in their last league game of IPL 2023 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Friday, May 19.

The left-handed batter struck five fours and three sixes as Rajasthan chased down a target of 188 in 19.4 overs to keep their playoff hopes alive.

In a post-match press conference, Padikkal reflected on what has been a mixed season for him and said:

“Honestly, even I don’t know what the difference has been [in Friday’s knock]. It’s been one of those seasons where I have been up and down personally. It’s not been up to the standards that I would have hoped for. Again, every season that I come into the IPL, I just want to learn. I am still young and I am looking to pave my way in this game.

“There’s a lot to learn - batting at numbers three, four, five, six. I have done it all this season and I am really happy that I am learning with every single opportunity I get.”

While Padikkal was the aggressor in the second-wicket stand of 73 with Yashasvi Jaiswal (50 off 36), the southpaw clarified that it was not something they had planned. He explained:

“We both bat pretty well with each other whenever we have got an opportunity and we knew at what point who is playing the ball better and hitting the ball better. We were just looking to build a partnership. Whenever you lose an early wicket, you have to make sure that you take some time and just put the bad balls away. We were happy that we could push that partnership as long as possible.”

After Jos Buttler registered his third duck in a row, and the fifth of the season, Jaiswal and Padikkal rebuilt the innings with impressive half-centuries.

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“We had to make sure that we win the game first” - Devdutt Padikkal on run rate scenario

RR needed to chase down the target in 18.3 overs to move ahead of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on the net run rate scenario. Padikkal admitted that they were aware of the same, but added that their first objective was to win the match.

The 22-year-old commented:

“We were aware of that but, at the same time, we had to make sure that we win the game first. It was a close game. In the end, we had to make sure we got that victory and not think too far ahead. At the end of the day, that’s in our control. What happens in the RCB game is up to them. We did what we could.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians (MI) will need to lose their last league game and finish below RR’s net run rate for Sanju Samson and his team to qualify for the IPL 2023 playoffs.