Devdutt Padikkal is an Indian top-order batter from Edapal, Kerala. Born on 7 July 2000, he bats left-handed and bowls occasional right-arm off-break. On 15 October 2026, he is 26 years old and is listed with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after returning to the franchise at the 2025 auction. He has played for India in Tests and T20Is.
Devdutt Padikkal at a glance
- Full name
- Devdutt Padikkal
- Date of birth
- 7 July 2000
- Age on 15 October 2026
- 26
- Birthplace
- Edapal, Kerala, India
- Role
- Top-order batter
- Batting style
- Left-hand bat
- Bowling style
- Right-arm off-break
- Domestic team
- Karnataka
- IPL team in 2026
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- India formats
- Test and T20I
Profile checked 15 October 2026. Team and record details are dated in the article.
Early cricket and domestic pathway
Padikkal moved to Bengaluru from Hyderabad at 11 to pursue cricket, according to reporting from his formative coach. He developed through Karnataka age-group cricket and also gained attention with Ballari Tuskers in the Karnataka Premier League. He began as an off-spinner before concentrating on batting.
His senior pathway started with Karnataka. He made his first-class debut against Maharashtra in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy, followed by a List A debut against Jharkhand in September 2019 and a senior T20 debut against Uttarakhand in November 2019. The 2019–20 Vijay Hazare Trophy was his first major breakthrough: he scored 609 runs and led Karnataka’s run charts.
The next season brought an even clearer signal. Padikkal became the first Indian batter to score four consecutive List A hundreds in the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy. That run, combined with his early IPL form, put him in India’s white-ball plans.
India career and major milestones
Padikkal made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo on 28 July 2021. He played two T20Is on that tour. His next major international opportunity came in Test cricket after a strong 2023–24 domestic season for Karnataka, including 465 Vijay Hazare Trophy runs and 556 Ranji Trophy runs in the figures reported at the time.
He made his Test debut against England at Dharamsala on 7 March 2024. Batting at No. 4, he scored 65 in the first innings, making a half-century on debut. He was later included in India’s squad for the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and played the Perth Test.
IPL journey
Padikkal made his IPL debut for RCB in 2020 and made an immediate impact, scoring 473 runs in his first season and winning the Emerging Player award. In 2021, he made his first IPL century, an unbeaten 101 from 52 balls against Rajasthan Royals.
Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹7.75 crore at the 2022 mega auction. He scored 376 runs in that season and 261 in 2023, although his role often moved away from his preferred opening position. Rajasthan then traded him to Lucknow Super Giants for Avesh Khan ahead of IPL 2024. Padikkal scored 38 runs in seven innings for Lucknow that season.
RCB bought him for ₹2 crore at the 2025 auction, giving him a return to the team where his IPL career began. The RCB return was followed by 247 runs in 10 IPL 2025 matches before a hamstring injury ended his campaign early. The 2026 match record lists him playing for RCB, including the final on 31 May 2026.
Career timeline
- 7 July 2000: Born in Edapal, Kerala.
- 2018–19: Made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.
- 2019–20: Scored 609 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy; made List A and senior T20 debuts.
- 2020: Debuted in the IPL for RCB, scoring 473 runs and winning Emerging Player.
- 28 July 2021: Made his T20I debut for India against Sri Lanka.
- 12 February 2022: Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹7.75 crore.
- November 2023: Was traded from Rajasthan Royals to Lucknow Super Giants for Avesh Khan.
- 7 March 2024: Made his Test debut against England at Dharamsala and scored 65.
- November 2024: Played in India’s Perth Test against Australia.
- 24 November 2024: RCB bought him for ₹2 crore for IPL 2025.
- 31 May 2026: The 2026 match record lists him in RCB’s IPL final side.
Playing style
Padikkal is primarily a tall, left-handed opening or top-order batter. His height and reach allow him to meet good-length bowling on the rise, and his best limited-overs cricket has come when he can settle at the top of the order. The 473-run 2020 IPL season and four consecutive List A hundreds show both his timing and his ability to build innings.
His game is not limited to power hitting. His domestic record includes substantial first-class scores, and his 2023–24 Ranji season showed that he could occupy the crease for long periods. He is listed as an off-break bowler, but batting is his main skill and teams use him as a specialist batter rather than a regular bowling option.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Devdutt Padikkal in 2026?
He is 26 years old on 15 October 2026. His date of birth is 7 July 2000, so his 26th birthday had already passed.
Which IPL team does Devdutt Padikkal play for in 2026?
The dated 2026 match record lists him with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB bought him for ₹2 crore at the 2025 auction.
What is Devdutt Padikkal‘s role?
He is a top-order batter who bats left-handed and is listed as a right-arm off-break bowler.
When did he make his India debut?
His T20I debut came against Sri Lanka on 28 July 2021. His Test debut followed against England at Dharamsala on 7 March 2024.
What was his first IPL season like?
He scored 473 runs for RCB in IPL 2020 and won the season’s Emerging Player award.
What was his best-known early IPL innings?
He scored an unbeaten 101 from 52 balls against Rajasthan Royals in 2021, his first IPL century.
