Ranji Trophy final: Padikkal, Dogra look to carve their legacy

HUBBALLI: A few seasons ago, Devdutt Padikkal was fighting a different battle. A stomach illness derailed his 2022-23 campaign, forcing the elegant left-hander to step away and rebuild his fitness before returning to competitive cricket. Since then, Padikkal has rediscovered his rhythm and nearly two years ago, earned his India Test cap. On Tuesday, he will walk out for the toss in the Ranji Trophy final as captain of the Karnataka team — a defining moment in a young career. On the other side stands a battle-hardened pro, who cut his teeth in domestic cricket when Padikkal was still a toddler. Paras Dogra is enjoying the late flourish in his long career and hopes to take his team Jammu and Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy title.Padikkal admitted the captaincy transition came with its challenges. “It wasn’t easy. At the same time, when you have the experience that I had around me, it becomes much easier. Honestly, I didn’t feel the pressure,” he said. “Scoring over 1000 runs in the semifinal (vs Uttarakhand) is a big confidence booster, not just for the batters, but for the bowlers as well. It gives them the freedom to enjoy themselves with the ball,” Padikkal added.On the other hand, J&K’s confidence stems from clarity of thought. “We’re trying to be calm and composed. We’ll stick to our basics. Also, our skill levels in both batting and bowling are good,” Dogra said.J&K head coach Ajay Sharma has reinforced that mindset, urging his players to strip the contest of names and reputations. “We don’t think about the players — be it KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, or anyone else. It’s a game of bat and ball. I tell the batters not to think about the bowler’s name, instead see the ball and hit it. The bowlers, too, go into a match with a similar mindset,” Sharma said.