I was mighty impressed by what I saw of Devdutt Padikkal in his first game, says K Srikkanth

Former Indian opener and selector, Krishnamachari Srikkanth was all praise for Devdutt Padikkal's sublime knock against the southern counterparts, Sunrisers Hyderabad in RCB's opening fixture.  

"I was mighty impressed by what I saw of Devdutt Padikkal in his first game. Adapting to a bigger stage is never easy and the youngster showed the right attitude in registering a match-winning performance. For keen followers of domestic cricket, Padikkal's performance might have not come as a surprise. What struck me most about the 20-year-old was that he staying still and playing the ball late. Offering a straight bat is always an advantage but that didn't bring down his scoring areas. A good all-round batsman, Padikkal looks to have that extra second against the seamers, so crucial for an opener,” Srikkanth was quoted as saying in a column for Times of India. 

Earlier on Monday, Devdutt Padikkal stood tall against the SRH bowling attack, plundering boundaries at will. The 20-year-old's 42-ball stay at the crease laced with 8 boundaries provided a strong platform for the incoming batters to capitalise.

Srikkanth earmarked the southpaw as a player to look out for in the near future, given that he intends to play his game with freedom. "If the knock against Hyderabad is any indication, Padikkal should go some distance. My only wish is, he is left alone and allowed to play his natural, free-flowing game," Srikkanth said. 

[TOI Inputs]