This is the moment I have always dreamt about: Devdutt Padikkal on the Indian call-up

While the Virat Kohli-led team is in England preparing for the five-match Test series, a new-look Team India will play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against Sri Lanka beginning on July 13.  

Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Nitish Rana are among the newcomers to the squad. Needless to say, the limelight will be on the fresh faces. Karnataka opener Padikkal, who has been remarkable with the bat for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, sees this as an opportunity to augment his skills. The youngster is looking forward to sharing the dressing room with the stand-in skipper, Shikhar Dhawan. 

“This will be a really great opportunity for me to learn from someone who is similar to me. Obviously, he is also a left-handed opener and I have watched a lot of his batting as I have grown up. His Test debut against Australia is pretty unforgettable, to be honest. To see how he batted… I was really inspired by how fearless he was on his debut. Cut short, there is a lot I can learn from him and I am looking forward to playing under him,” Devdutt Padikkal was quoted as saying on ‘Follow The Blues’ on Star Sports.

For any youngster, who began playing cricket with the goal of representing his country, the feeling of realising that goal is difficult to describe. The emotion of being chosen to represent the county is difficult to put into words for the 21-year-old.

“Dream come true because ever since I started playing cricket at nine years old, this is the moment I have always dreamt about and always wanted to achieve. So to be picked to represent the country is a feeling which is very hard to explain. So I am really grateful for this opportunity,” he added. 

The southpaw will be keen to make the most out of the opportunity if given a chance. He also stated that playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) helped in fast-tracking his growth. Devdutt has been a revelation for Royal Challengers Bangalore so far, aggregating 668 runs in 21 matches. He has set numerous records at the age of 21, but it is his maturity and insatiable hunger for runs that stand out.

“There is a lot of attention on the IPL and being a youngster it was important that as soon as I got that chance, I really made a mark and really cemented my place in the side. IPL has given me that platform and I will always be grateful for that, ” Devdutt said. 

Virat Kohli's unwavering passion and commitment to the game, according to Devdutt, is one of the qualities that captivate him. That is something he has always admired about him. 

“You can clearly see the passion and dedication he [Kohli] has towards the game. That’s something I have always admired in him and it’s just that how driven he is to being the No.1, the best he can be. When you have someone like that as your leader, you will also want to emulate that same thing.” he concluded.