Devdutt Padikkal landed a playful jab at KL Rahul on Instagram, tagging the senior India wicketkeeper-batter in a comment that quickly caught the attention of cricket fans online. The exchange offered a glimpse of the easy rapport the two players share away from the field.
Padikkal directed his comment at the senior batter and vice-captain of the Indian Test team. Padikkal, who is also a Karnataka compatriot of Rahul, wrote, “You mean inside that brain of yours? 🥴” on the latter’s post captioned “A little bit of nothing.”
It is clear that Padikkal was comfortable enough to poke fun at Rahul in a public forum, reflecting the relaxed dynamic between the two India cricketers.
The two players share a notable on-field connection that dates back to early 2024. In February of that year, Padikkal was added to India’s Test squad as a replacement for Rahul. He went on to make his Test debut in the fifth match of the England series on March 7, 2024, stepping directly into the vacancy created by Rahul’s absence.
Padikkal’s recent Test form for India
Padikkal has since made a strong case for his place in the Test setup. In the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in 2026, he finished as India’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 328 runs across two Tests at an average of over 100. The series also produced his first two Test centuries. He came into that squad as a replacement for Sai Sudharsan, who missed the matches due to a toe injury.
Born on July 7, 2000, in Edappal, Kerala, Padikkal represents Karnataka in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. His Instagram exchange with Rahul is the latest social media moment to highlight the informal, relaxed side of Indian cricket’s current generation.
Recently, the cricketer has been named the captain of India A’s red-ball side for the multi-day matches against Australia A for the upcoming tour. Padikkal has also been named the vice-captain to skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad in the one-day squad for the multi-format series, which includes two multi-day and three 50-over encounters.
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