Devdutt Padikkal is turning the Vijay Hazare Trophy into a compelling audition for higher honours, registering his third century in four matches to keep his name firmly in the India ODI conversation.
The 25-year-old left-hander struck a measured 113 off 116 balls as the defending champions defeated Puducherry by 67 runs in a Group A match at the ADSA Railways Cricket Ground in Ahmedabad.
Padikkal was well supported by skipper Mayank Agarwal, who hammered 132 off 124 deliveries, as the pair stitched together a dominant 228-run opening stand. Their partnership laid the foundation for Karnataka’s imposing total of 363 for 4 in 50 overs, effectively sealing control of the contest early.
The duo added 228 runs in 37.5 overs for the opening stand after electing to bat.
Karun Nair remained unbeaten on 62 off 34 balls, a knock which was studded with four boundaries and as many hits over the fence.
None of the Puducherry bowlers could inflict any damage on Karnataka with Jayant Yadav returning with best figures of 1/41 from his nine overs.
In reply, Puducherry made a decent start with the opening pair of Neyan Shyam Kangayan (68 off 66) and wicketkeeper Ajay Rohera (32) stitching 78 runs for the opening stand.
Jayant also shone bright with the bat with a rearguard knock of 54 off 35 balls while skipper Aman Khan made 34 as Puducherry were all out for 296 in 50 overs.
This latest hundred followed Padikkal’s previous scores of 147 against Jharkhand and 124 versus Kerala, with his only modest outing being a quick 22 off 12 balls. Across four matches, he has already piled up 405 runs, underlining his consistency and appetite for big scores.
Padikkal’s broader List A numbers make an equally compelling case. In just 36 innings, he has scored 12 centuries and 12 fifties -- an exceptional conversion rate that highlights his reliability and growing maturity in the 50-over format, and keeps him firmly in the selectors’ reckoning.
Utkarsh smashes ton as Jharkhand demolish TN
In another Group A match, opener Utkarsh Singh hit a fluent unbeaten 123 off 120 balls while right-arm fast bowler Shubham Kumar Singh scalped 4 for 53 to hand Jharkhand a commanding nine wicket win over Tamil Nadu and jump to the third position in the points table.
Electing to field, Jharkhand rode on Shubham's exploits and Sushant Mishra's 2/51 to limit Tamil Nadu to 243 all out in 45 overs.
Pradosh Ranjan Paul (49) and Baba Indrajith (48) were the main run getters for Tamil Nadu.
The chase was set up by the opening stand of 201 runs by Shikhar Mohan (90 off 108) and Utkarsh as Jharkhand romped home with consummate ease. Utkarsh hit 13 boundaries and three sixes in his innings. This was his fourth List A knock.
Utkarsh (1/32) also picked up a wicket with his off-break bowling to return with the man-of-the-match award.
Iyer bowls MP to 4-wicket win over Tripura
All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer scalped 4 for 44 with right-arm medium pace before Yash Dubey slammed 105 off 97 balls to hand Madhya Pradesh an easy four wicket win over Tripura to occupy the top position in Group A.
Electing to bowl, Iyer dazzled with the ball and was given able support by Kumar Kartikeya (2/56) to restrict Tripura to 286 for 7.
For Tripura, Vijay Shankar made 91 off 98 balls with the help of four boundaries, while Sridam Paul scored 52.
Madhya Pradesh then rode on Dubey's ton and Shubham Sharma's 75-ball 71 to chase down the target in 44 overs.
Kerala beat Rajasthan in high-scoring thriller
Baba Aparajith continued his fine form, hitting 126 off 116 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and four sixes to help Kerala beat Rajasthan by two wickets in a high-scoring affair.
Rajasthan made 343 for seven riding on Karan Lamba's unbeaten 119 off 131 balls which was laced with six boundaries and four sixes and Deepak Hooda's 83-ball 86.
Right-arm medium pacer Sharafuddeen (3/55) was the best bowler for Kerala.
Kerala didn't have the best of starts to their chase losing skipper Rohan Kunnummal in the first delivery before Krishna Prasad (53) and Aparajith joined hands and forged a 155-run stand for the second wicket to set the platform for the win.
Towards the Eden Apple Tom (40 not out off 18) used his long handle to great effect to guide Kerala home in the final delivery.
Brief scores:
Karnataka 363 for 4 in 50 overs (Mayank Agarwal 132, Devdutt Padikkal 113; Jayant Yadav 1/41) beat Puducherry 296 all out in 50 overs (Neyan Shyam Kangayan 68, Jayant Yadav 54; Manvanth Kumar 3/52) by 67 runs.
Tripura 286 for 7 in 50 overs (Vijay Shankar 91, Sridam Paul 52; Venkatesh Iyer 4/44) lose to Madhya Pradesh 287 for 6 in 50 overs (Yash Dbey 105, Shubham Sharma 71; Vijay Shankar 3/41) by four wickets.
Tamil Nadu 243 all out in 45 overs (Neyan Shyam Kangayan 49, Baba Indrajith 48; Shubham Kumar Singh 4/53) lose to Jharkhand 244 for 1 in 41 overs (Utkarsh Singh 123 not out, Shikhar Mohan 90; Pradosh Ranjan Paul 1/41).
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