Devdutt Padikkal Joins Elite Club with 1000 IPL Runs for RCB

Padikkal's Milestone Achievement

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 13: Devdutt Padikkal has made history by becoming only the second Indian player, following the legendary Virat Kohli, to surpass 1000 runs for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL).

In a thrilling match against the Royals in Jaipur, Padikkal contributed significantly with a composed 40*, helping the Royal Challengers secure a decisive 9-wicket victory on an exciting Sunday.

With this performance, the young left-handed batsman has now accumulated 1003 runs in 35 matches for RCB, maintaining an average of 30.39 and a strike rate of 126.64, making him the second player in the franchise's history to reach the 1000-run milestone after Kohli.

Virat Kohli remains the leading run-scorer for RCB and in the IPL overall. Since his debut in the tournament's first season in 2008, Kohli has played 258 matches, amassing 8252 runs at an average of 39.10, including 58 fifties and eight centuries.

This season of the IPL marks Padikkal's return to RCB after a three-season hiatus. He previously played for the Rajasthan Royals for two seasons and had a stint with the Lucknow Super Giants last year.

During RCB's chase of a 174-run target, Philip Salt set the pace with an explosive innings, while Kohli played a stabilizing role. After Salt's quickfire 65 off 33 balls, Padikkal partnered with Kohli to steer RCB towards victory.

The duo formed an unbroken 83-run partnership for the second wicket, leading RCB to a comfortable win. Kohli finished the match with an unbeaten 62 off 45 balls, marking his third fifty of the season and his 100th in T20 cricket.