The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season has already produced one of the most dominant individual batting performances in recent domestic cricket history, courtesy of Karnataka’s left-handed opener Devdutt Padikkal. At 25 years of age, Padikkal has transformed himself into a run-accumulating force, single-handedly keeping Karnataka competitive in Elite Group A while sending an unmistakable signal to national selectors ahead of the England Test tour later in the year.