Padikkal Nearly Hits Double Century with 199 Against NZ A

Padikkal’s 199 for India A in Lincoln ended with a caught‑behind dismissal, a moment that almost turned into a double‑hundred but slipped by on a single run.

The innings came after a humbling outing against Australia A at home, and the 26‑year‑old used the windy, blustery pitch to his advantage, rotating the strike and accumulating runs steadily.

"I had to adapt quickly, keep the ball late, focus on swing," Padikkal said, noting the importance of adjusting to New Zealand’s wind‑heavy conditions and learning from each over.

He credits a candid chat with KL Rahul back in Australia for the mindset shift: "Every game I play, I aim to perform better than the last, or else I’ll fall behind the men around me."

With the Test series in Wellington set to kick off next week, Padikkal is sharpening his technique and mental game, determined to turn those near‑misses into solid performances on the big stage.