IPL 2020 : “You’re playing really well, stay in the zone and enjoy yourself,” Devdutt Padikkal reveals “special message” from AB de Villiers
Follow Us
AB de Villiers and Devdutt Padikkal
Young Karnataka opener Devdutt Padikkal took Indian Premier League 2020 by storm with his scintillating batting in his debut season. The Royal Challengers Bangalore opener went on become the top scorer of the side with 473 runs under his belt. Padikkal was also adjudged the Emerging Player of the Year as he slated the record for the most runs by a batsman in his debut IPL season.
You’re playing really well
The young opener shares that he had a great time in the RCB camp as he learnt from the best in the business. Padikkal, who hammered five half-centuries, was able to catch former Protea skipper AB de Villiers‘ eyes. The Karnataka youngster shares that the star batter even texted him in praise of his performance against Mumbai Indians.
“He’s a special player. Just watching him bat is a treat for your eyes. Throughout the season, he kept telling me to stay in the zone and continue to do what I was doing,” Padikkal told ESPNCricinfo.
“I remember when we were travelling back from the Mumbai [Indians] game in which I got the 70 [74], he sent me a text message saying, ‘Continue to do that and you’re playing really well, just stay in the zone and enjoy yourself’. That was really special because, coming from him, it was a great honour. I really enjoyed batting with him whenever I could because he makes your job so easy. He just takes on the bowlers from ball one and I enjoyed watching him.”
Padikkal, who was left warming the bench last season came into IPL 2020 on the back of some great performances. He was the leading run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments and picked up from there in the UAE.
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)