Few Indian openers made as instant an impression on the IPL as Devdutt Padikkal did back in 2020, when he racked up five half-centuries in his very first season and walked away with the Emerging Player award. Since then, his career has taken him across four different franchises, into India’s Test and T20I sides, and back to the team where it all began — Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Sharing a birthday with MS Dhoni hasn’t hurt the storyline either.
This article explores Devdutt Padikkal age, biography, family, education, cricket career, IPL journey, achievements, playing style, net worth, and lesser-known facts.
Who is Devdutt Padikkal?
Devdutt Padikkal is an Indian cricketer who represents Karnataka in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League (IPL). A tall, elegant left-handed top-order batter who also bowls right-arm off-break, he has represented India in Test and T20I cricket and is regarded as one of the most stylish young batters to come out of Indian domestic cricket in recent years.
His journey has been a genuinely well-travelled one for a player still in his mid-twenties — from Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Rajasthan Royals, then Lucknow Super Giants, and finally back to RCB via the 2026 auction — while still finding time to earn his Test cap against England.
Devdutt Padikkal Biography Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Devdutt Padikkal |
| Profession | Cricketer |
| Date of Birth | 7 July 2000 |
| Age | 25 Years (2026) |
| Birthplace | Edappal, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Batting Style | Left-Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Off-Break |
| Playing Role | Top-Order Batter |
| Domestic Team | Karnataka |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Jersey Number | 37 |
| Test Cap Number | 314 |
| T20I Cap Number | 89 |
Devdutt Padikkal Age
Born on 7 July 2000 in Edappal, Kerala, Devdutt Padikkal is 25 years old as of 2026. One fun detail that often comes up alongside his age: he shares his birthday, July 7, with India legend MS Dhoni. He’s now firmly in the middle of his cricketing prime, with a career that spans nearly a decade of domestic cricket, six-plus IPL seasons across multiple franchises, and international caps in two formats.
Early Life and Education
Devdutt Padikkal was born in Edappal, Kerala, but his family relocated to Bengaluru in 2011 in search of better cricketing opportunities — a move that turned out to be pivotal for his career. Growing up, he was introduced to cricket at a young age, and his family recognised his potential early on, providing consistent support as he progressed through local clubs and school tournaments.
He trained at the Karnataka Institute of Cricket and represented Karnataka at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels, quickly building a reputation as one of the state’s most promising young batters.
| Qualification | Details |
|---|---|
| Schooling | Bengaluru, Karnataka (after relocating from Kerala) |
| College | St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru |
| Cricket Training | Karnataka Institute of Cricket |
Devdutt Padikkal Height and Physical Appearance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 6 feet 3 inches (approx. 190 cm) |
| Weight | Around 65 kg |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling Arm | Right (off-break) |
| Build | Tall, athletic frame — well-suited to playing the short ball and driving through the line |
Devdutt Padikkal Family
Devdutt Padikkal comes from a close-knit Malayali family that made real sacrifices to support his cricketing career, including a full relocation from Kerala to Karnataka when he was still a child. He continues to live with his parents and has often spoken about how central their support has been to his journey.
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Babunu Kunnath (also referred to in some reports as Babu Kunnath) |
| Mother | Ambili Padikkal |
| Sister | Chandni Padikkal – A practising lawyer |
| Family Background | Malayali family, originally from Edappal, Kerala; relocated to Bengaluru in 2011 |
| Hometown | Edappal, Kerala (raised in Bengaluru, Karnataka) |
Devdutt Padikkal Girlfriend and Personal Life
As of 2026, Devdutt Padikkal is unmarried, and his dating status has not been publicly confirmed. He lives with his parents in Bengaluru and has kept his personal life largely away from media speculation, with public attention remaining focused almost entirely on his cricket.
| Relationship Status | Details |
|---|---|
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Not Publicly Known |
| Relationship Status | Private |
Devdutt Padikkal Career
Domestic Cricket Career
Devdutt Padikkal first came to notice in 2017 when he was picked up by the Bellary Tuskers in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) draft, smashing 72 against the Bengaluru Blasters in his debut season and drawing early comparisons to a young Yuvraj Singh. He made his first-class debut for Karnataka in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy on 28 November 2018, and was also part of India’s victorious squad at the Under-19 Asia Cup, scoring 183 runs in four matches, including a top score of 121 against the UAE.
He has since been a key contributor to Karnataka’s domestic success, playing a central role in the state’s championship-winning campaigns across multiple formats.
IPL Career
Padikkal was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹20 lakh at the IPL 2019 auction. He announced himself in style in the 2020 season, scoring 473 runs at an average of 31.53 with five half-centuries, becoming RCB’s top performer that year and winning the IPL’s Emerging Player of the Year award. He also became the first player in IPL history to score three half-centuries in his first four matches, and later became the first player to score a century on his own birthday.
He continued in similar form the following season before moving on. His journey since has taken him to Rajasthan Royals (2022–2023), Lucknow Super Giants (2024), and back to Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2025 onward, where he was retained for the 2026 season for ₹2 crore. Across his IPL career, Padikkal has played 90 matches, scoring 2,270 runs at an average of 26.71, with one century and 14 half-centuries, and a highest score of 101 not out.
International Career
Padikkal earned his maiden call-up to the Indian national team in 2021 on the back of strong domestic performances, making his T20I debut against Sri Lanka on 28 July 2021. He went on to make his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2022. His biggest international milestone came in March 2024, when he made his Test debut against England, wearing Test cap number 314 and scoring an impressive 65 in an innings win for India.
Devdutt Padikkal Batting Style
Devdutt Padikkal is known for:
- Elegant, technically correct left-handed batting with a classical foundation
- Excellent use of his height to play the short ball and cut aggressively
- Strong front-foot driving, particularly through the covers
- The ability to combine modern T20 aggression with old-school technique
- Useful right-arm off-break bowling as a change-of-pace option
His batting is often described as a blend of classical technique and contemporary intent, which is part of why he made such an instant impression during his IPL debut season.
Devdutt Padikkal IPL Team
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| IPL 2019–2021 | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| IPL 2022–2023 | Rajasthan Royals |
| IPL 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| IPL 2025–2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
Devdutt Padikkal Career Highlights
- Emerging Player of the Year, IPL 2020
- First player in IPL history to score three half-centuries in his first four matches
- First player to score an IPL century on his own birthday
- Part of India’s title-winning squad at the Under-19 Asia Cup
- T20I debut for India vs Sri Lanka (28 July 2021)
- ODI debut for India vs Zimbabwe (2022)
- Test debut for India vs England, scoring 65 (7 March 2024)
- 2,270+ IPL runs across four franchises, including one century and 14 half-centuries
Devdutt Padikkal Net Worth
Devdutt Padikkal’s net worth is not officially confirmed, but public estimates place it in a modest multi-crore range as of 2026, built primarily around his IPL contracts across multiple franchises, BCCI central and match fees since his international debut, and brand endorsement deals. His most solid, confirmed income figure is his IPL 2026 salary of ₹2 crore from Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
| Income Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | Multi-crore range (unofficial estimate) |
| IPL Salary | ₹2 Crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, 2026) |
| BCCI Match Fees | Applicable since 2021 international debut |
| Domestic Cricket | Karnataka Cricket Association match fees |
| Brand Endorsements | Multiple, not fully disclosed |
Achievements
- Part of India’s Under-19 Asia Cup-winning squad
- Emerging Player of the Year, IPL 2020
- First player in IPL history to score three fifties in his first four matches
- First IPL player to score a century on his own birthday
- India T20I, ODI, and Test cap holder
- 65 on Test debut against England (March 2024)
Social Media Presence
| Platform | Presence | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @devpadikkal19 | 3.2M+ | |
| Twitter (X) | @devdpd07 | 248K+ |
| @imdevdutt | 41K+ |
Lesser-Known Facts About Devdutt Padikkal
- He was born in Edappal, Kerala, but his family moved to Bengaluru in 2011 for better cricketing opportunities.
- He shares his birthday, July 7, with India cricket legend MS Dhoni.
- His sister, Chandni Padikkal, is a practising lawyer.
- He drew early comparisons to Yuvraj Singh after his performances in the 2017 Karnataka Premier League.
- He has played for four different IPL franchises: RCB, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and back to RCB.
- He was the first player in IPL history to score three half-centuries in his first four matches.
- He is the first IPL player to score a century on his own birthday.
- He still lives with his parents in Bengaluru.
- He studied at St. Joseph’s College of Commerce in Bengaluru while building his cricket career.
- He earned his Test cap in 2024, several years after his T20I and ODI debuts.
Conclusion
Devdutt Padikkal’s career captures the story of a player who arrived with enormous hype in 2020 and has spent the years since proving there was real substance behind it — across four IPL franchises, a Test cap earned with a fighting half-century against England, and a continued role as one of Karnataka’s most reliable domestic batters. With his return to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the 2026 season, the franchise where his IPL story began, there’s a real sense of a career coming full circle, and plenty of cricket still left for him to play at the top level.
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