Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag expects Devdutt Padikkal to have an impact in the second Qualifier against Royal Challengers Bangalore. As Padikkal was earlier associated with RCB in the last couple of seasons, he would have played the team’s bowling attack in the practice nets and will be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.
However, it should be noted that Padikkal would have played against Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel in the nets. But he won’t have faced the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Josh Hazlewood as both of them were signed in the IPL 2022 mega auction.
Padikkal had impressed in his debut IPL season in 2020 for RCB as he had scored 473 runs in 15 matches. However, he was not retained by RCB and RR signed him for INR 7.75 crores in IPL 2022 mega auction. The left-hander has been given the opportunity to bat in the middle-order by RR’s team management as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal are opening the innings.
In the ongoing season of the IPL, the Karnataka batter has scored 365 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.33 and a strike rate of 128.52. Padikkal is going to play a key role in the middle-order for RR and he will look to deliver the goods against his former franchise.
Sehwag said on Cricbuzz: “Devdutt Padikkal is the player to watch out for. He has played against this bowling attack for around 2-3 years in the nets.”
Sehwag believes RCB will enter the contest as favorites against RR in the second qualifier as they have the winning momentum with them.
Sehwag said: “The way RCB played, the advantage is definitely with them for Qualifier 2. There is no doubt about it. But they will have to play in a similar fashion.”
“RCB have the advantage because they head into the contest on the back of a win, while RR lost. RCB have momentum with them, RR does not.”
Meanwhile, Rajat Patidar had played a magnificent knock against LSG whereas RR could not defend 188 runs against GT in the first qualifier. The second qualifier between RR and RCB will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Friday.
