IPL 2021: RCB centurion Devdutt Padikkal regrets missing the first match of season

Padikkal, who became only the third uncapped Indian batsman to get a century in IPL, arrived late to RCB camp since he was recovering from the infection. He had to miss the first match after testing COVID-19 positive.

Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Devdutt Padikkal en route to scoring a century against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2021 clash in Mumbai. (Photo: ANI)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal, who scored unbeaten 101 off 52 balls to lead RCB to a 10-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, expressed relief on getting back to big scores after recovering from COVID-19.

Padikkal, who became only the third uncapped Indian batsman to get a century in IPL, arrived late to RCB camp since he was recovering from the infection. He had to miss the first match. He couldn’t get going in the next two games but scored a roaring century on Thursday night.

“To be honest it’s been special, all I could do was wait for my turn. When I had COVID, all I wanted was to come here and play, and when I missed the first one it really hurt me,” said Padikkal after being presented with the man-of-the-match award.

“At the end of the day even if I didn’t get a hundred it wouldn’t have mattered to me if the team won. The conversation was very clear, we both (Kohli and him) realised when we were going good. We just wanted to rotate the strike,” said Padikkal as he added 181 for the first wicket which is the most for the opening wicket for RCB.

Teammate Glenn Maxwell, who had been performing up until now for RCB with AB de Villiers, was thrilled with the performance put up by Kohli and Padikkal.

“That was my favourite game to watch so far. Clinical from start to finish. I’ve certainly been looking to go out there, but the way those two went, they were on top the whole way through,” said Maxwell.

“I’ve not done any work with Devdutt. He’s got a beautiful flow of the bat. Obviously he had COVID at the start of the year, felt a bit flat, but he cashed in,” said the Aussie batsman.

Virat Kohli became the first batsman to complete 6,000 runs in the IPL. “Not really, that’s what I was telling Virat to go for it. For me, it’s not about getting to a hundred, I wouldn’t mind missing out on hundreds as long as I contribute to the team’s wins,” Padikkal said, when asked if he was worried about getting the hundred.

(with agency inputs)