"Idol is Gambhir, what were you expecting?"- Fans slam Devdutt Padikkal for 23-ball duck on Day 1 of 1st BGT 2024-25 Test
Team India batter Devdutt Padikkal endured a torrid start to his tour of Australia with a 23-ball duck on Day 1 of the opening Test in Perth on Friday, November 22. Drafted into the squad in the eleventh hour with the injury to Shubman Gill, the southpaw came into bat at No. 3 after Yashasvi Jaiswal's dismissal.
However, Padikkal looked tentative from the word go before eventually nicking off to the relentless Josh Hazlewood. The 24-year-old impressed with his technique in the two India A-Australia A games on challenging wickets, resulting in his inclusion in India's playing XI.
Padikkal debuted for India in Tests at home against England earlier this year, scoring 65 in his lone innings.
Yet, his display on the opening morning of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy had fans fuming with the following reactions:
"Devdutt Padikkal idol is Gambhir, what were you expecting?" one wrote.
Fans continued slamming Padikkal for his lackluster vigil with one saying:
"Padikkal was horrible in Karnataka premier league and he was slotted as number 3 in this test side. I bet Rahane and Pujara,though old they are but would have atleast scored a run each. What a joke to slot Padikkal in!"
"Watching Padikkal bat in Australia, only means we have serious issues with batting talent in India," tweeted a fan.
"0(23) for Devdutt padikkal, I don't understand when you know that you are playing in Australian conditions then why don't you play with an attacking mindset, Paddikal looked so scared where neither the bowl is swinging nor the seam," a fan said.
Padikkal's dismissal leaves Team India in trouble on Day 1 of the opening Test against Australia
Team India's worst nightmares turned into reality on the first morning of the opening Test against Australia in Perth. After winning the toss and batting first, the visitors suffered an early setback with the loss of Yashasvi Jaiswal for an eight-ball duck.
The Karnataka pair of Padikkal and KL Rahul then dropped anchor and thwarted the Aussie pacers for the next eight overs before the former's dismissal. India's talisman Virat Kohli walked in with the side in early trouble at 14/2 in 11 overs.
Despite looking solid in his brief stay, Kohli edged Hazlewood off his 12th delivery to walk back to the pavilion for only 5. It was Hazlewood's second wicket with Mitchell Starc bagging the other as India were reduced to 32/3 in the 17th over.
The contest has three Test debutants in the mix with Nathan McSweeney for Australia and Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana for India playing their respective first red-ball outing at the international level.
India are gunning for a third consecutive Test series win down under after memorable triumphs in 2018-19 and 2020-21.