Former India keeper-batter Saba Karim has said that left-handed opener Devdutt Padikkal would need to understand his mindset and review his scoring shots in the upcoming 15^th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022), to be successful as he was in IPL 2020 and 2021.

The 21-year-old Karnataka southpaw had a fantastic debut season for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020, where he scored 473 runs. He then backed it up with 411 runs the previous season. Now he has been drafted in by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the IPL 2022 in the mega auction and will have a new role to play.

Padikkal was the Emerging Player of the Year award winner in the IPL 2020 which was played in UAE thanks to India being under the COVID pandemic’s first wave. Then in the IPL 2021 edition, Padikkal continued his brilliant form and even scored his maiden IPL century as well. Thus far in 29 matches in the IPL, Padikkal has 884 runs with one century and 6 half-centuries to his name.

He averages 31.57 and has a strike rate of 125.03. The southpaw has hit 95 fours and 22 sixes in his IPL career thus far.

Devdutt Padikkal Will Need To Work Very Hard: Saba Karim

Former India keeper and chief selector Saba Karim has said that Devdutt Padikkal would need to work very hard in the IPL 2022 edition. This is because he feels the opposition bowlers will end up finding a way to target his weak areas and that is something he needs to work on.

Speaking on the YouTube podcast ‘Khelneeti’, Saba Karim said: “Devdutt Padikkal will need to work very hard. This is because after having one good season, the video analysts and data analysts help the bowlers to work you out and exploit your weakness. So I think Padikkal would need to work on his mindset and understand what are his scoring shots. So I hope that such players who have performed well in IPL before are able to show that consistency.”

Padikkal is expected to be seen in action when Rajasthan Royals begins their IPL 2022 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pune’s MCA Stadium on March 29.

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