'I have to be patient and wait for my opportunity. I will just try to learn as much as possible from the greats of the game during IPL. This being my first season, I want to experience it and see how it works,' Devdutt Padikkal told MyNation
Bengaluru: Teenage opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal calls it a “big achievement” to be a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dressing room which will have greats like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
On Tuesday, Padikkal was bought by RCB for Rs 20 lakh at the IPL auction. It will be his first season of Indian Premier League (IPL) next year and he is excited. He is the only Bengalurean in the RCB squad.
“As a Bengalurean, every cricketer dreams of playing for RCB. So, it is a great opportunity for me to represent the franchise in my first season in IPL,” Devdutt told MyNation in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
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“Obviously, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers are greats in the game and to be a part of the same dressing room as them is in itself a big achievement for me. I am looking forward to learning a lot from them,” he added.
Last month, Devdutt made his first-class debut for Karnataka. In three matches so far, the 18-year-old left-hander has struck two half centuries. He was back home just in time to catch all the action from Jaipur.
“I had just come back from a Ranji Trophy game (against Gujarat in Surat) and tuned into watch the IPL auction. I was watching the auction with my family. When my name came up, honestly, I did not expect anything. I was about to get up and walk away when RCB picked me. Everyone at home got excited and we were jumping around. Everyone was really happy. Immediately my phone started ringing. There were a lot of messages coming in as well,” he said.
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Devdutt is happy that the year 2018 has been very good for him. He played Under-19 matches for Karnataka and he also went on to represent India.
“The entire year has been really good for me, from Under-19 state team to India Under-19 and then KPL (Karnataka Premier League). Obviously, Ranji Trophy is very important. It was really nice to contribute to the team in Ranji Trophy games and hopefully I can continue the same in the remaining games of the season,” he expressed his delight.
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On asked how he will approach his first year in IPL, he said he wants to be patient and wait for his chance.
“I have to be patient and wait for my opportunity. I will just try to learn as much as possible from the greats of the game during IPL. This being my first season, I want to experience it and see how it works,” he said.
Recalling his first and only meeting so far with Kohli, Devdutt said he cherishes that moment when he received a medal from the Delhi right-hander.
“I had met Virat once. He had come to Bengaluru for an exhibition match organised by Adidas. He had given me a medal and I still have that picture. Now, that I will be playing with him, it will be a different experience,” he recalled.
RCB have never won the IPL title and Devdutt is hoping that the luck changes in 2019. “Hopefully the luck changes in 2019 and RCB will win the trophy,” he signed off.
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