Devdutt Padikkal scores 81*, Karnataka and Saurashtra qualify for VHT Semis

On Monday, January 12, two Quarter Final matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 season took place. Karnataka faced Mumbai in a big knockout fixture, while Saurashtra were up against Uttar Pradesh in the

Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru, to determine the first two semi-finalists of the season. Both matches were at the COE in grounds next to each other. The weather played spoil sport in the evening towards the end of the game as rain came in and results were decided on VJD method. Karnataka beat Mumbai and Saurashtra beat Uttar Pradesh and these two have qualified for the Semi Finals.

Devdutt Padikkal continued his brutal form scoring 81*(95) and he was all set for his 14th century in VHT until rain and low light delayed caused the match to end. Karnataka lost Mayank early after they were set a target of 254 by Mumbai. Padikkal added 143*(143) runs with Karun Nair (74*) for the second wicket to win the match by 68 runs via VJD method. Devdutt Padikkal’s season tally has reached 719 runs at an average of 100.55. He was also named Player of the Match. The highest ever run scorer in a single season of VHT was Jagadeesan with 830 runs and the way Padikkal is batting he looks likely to break it. Also Read | Who replaced Washington Sundar in India’s ODI squad vs New Zealand?

On the other hand, UP scored 310 while batting first and in reply , the chase for Saurashtra was made incredibly easy by captain Harvik, who stitched a 133 runs partnership for the second wicket with Mankad after an early wicket of Vishvarjsinh Jadeja. He made 67(66) and Harvik carried the bat and finished with his third century of the tournament, getting 100*(116). Chirag Jani scored 40*(31) as they won by 17 runs VJD method. Both Saurashtra and Karnataka make it to the VHT semi finals.