250 runs in 28 overs! RCB star Devdutt Padikkal fires Karnataka into Ranji Trophy quarters

IPL 2025 winner Devdutt Padikkal celebrating his century [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]

RCB’s IPL 2025 winner Devdutt Padikkal fired Karnataka into the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 quarterfinals on his captaincy debut. Leading Karnataka for the first time, the cricketer demonstrated his IPL wares with a whirlwind fourth-innings century in a thrilling run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights from the Elite Group B match of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy between Punjab and Karnataka, as it panned out at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali between January 29 and February 1.

IPL winner Devdutt Padikkal helps Karnataka chase down 250, in 28 overs!

Chasing 250 runs for a win with some 40 overs remaining in the match on a thrilling Day 4, Karnataka soared past hosts Punjab in just 27.5 overs with five wickets to spare. Senior opener KL Rahul started off with a couple of confident boundaries before the cricketer mistimed one off Punjab’s fast bowler Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa at 17-1.

Rahul’s skipper and RCB star Devdutt Padikkal unleashed his IPL game in the middle in a must-win match for Karnataka, punching out an electrifying 120* off just 85 balls. The opening batter belted six fours and five huge sixes in his innings, and forged a match-defining 113-run partnership with Mayank Agarwal for the second wicket.

Agarwal himself blasted 53 from just 36 balls with six cracking fours and a six before getting knocked over by Emanjot Singh Chahal. Making the most of their prized breakthrough, Punjab bowlers soared back into the game with three quick wickets as Karnataka slipped from 130-1 to 134-4 in the space of just two overs.

Apart from getting rid of Mayank Agarwal, Punjab’s Emanjot Singh Chahal also dismissed Ravichandran Smaran for a single, and Anmoljeet Singh trapped KV Aneesh.

A resolute Devdutt Padikkal, however, remained steadfast in his approach and forged a quick 67-run partnership with Shreyas Gopal (33 off 22) and an unbeaten 51-run one with Vidyadhar Patil (14* off 10) as Karnataka stormed to a comprehensive five-wicket win with few minutes left in the game.

Devdutt Padikkal’s blitzkrieg a reminder of growing IPL influence

Karnataka’s blistering chase of over 250 runs in less than 28 overs at a brisk run rate of 9.05 serves as a vivid reminder of the growing IPL influence on the domestic circuit.

The fearless tempo, no-holds-barred mindset a and clarity in run-chases, all hallmarks of IPL, were on full display on Day 4 of the exhilarating Elite Group B Ranji Trophy 2025-26 fixture.

Punjab vs Karnataka in a hindsight

Punjab batted first on Day 1 and aggregated 309 in 92 overs, with Abhijeet Garg top-scoring through his 92-run knock. For Karnataka, Vidyadhar Patil (4-52) and Shreyas Gopal (3-48) picked up seven wickets between them.

Karnataka responded with 316 to take a marginal seven-run lead. KL Rahul and Shreyas Gopal both registered cautious half-centuries as the visitors maintained a run rate of just 2.86.

Punjab captain Uday Saharan made 93 in the second innings to set Karnataka a competitive target of 250 in less than 40 overs of the final day.

Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna (3-49) and Shreyas Gopal (3-43) both picked up three wickets each in the innings, with the latter claiming a match haul of 6-91.