Karnataka batsman became a household name during last year’s IPL, where he notched up 473 runs playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The young sensation is now stamping his authority at the Vijay Hazare trophy. Padikkal has single-handedly led Karnataka, the defending champions, into the quarterfinals.

Karnataka registered a 10-wicket win against Railways at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. The 20-year-old Padikkal scored a blistering 145 not out off 125 balls, his third consecutive century. Padikkal had scored a career-best 152 against Odisha and followed that up with a 126 not out against Kerala in Karnataka’s last outing.

The 20-year-old left-hander had the company of his skipper Ravikumar Samarth who also slammed an unbeaten century (130 not out from 118 balls; 17×4) as the opening duo raced to the 285-run target win with 57 balls to spare.

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Padikkal, who also has two half-centuries, now has the season’s highest tally of 572 runs from five matches with a staggering average of 190.66.

The Railways bowlers could do nothing but watch the two Karnataka openers go hammer and tongs. The duo raced past 200 in 29.5 overs as the seemingly challenging total proved just to be a cakewalk.

Padikkal also paced his innings beautifully, taking 60 balls for his fifty and then he stepped up and notched his fifth List A century in next 34 deliveries.