‘He Saved Kl Rahul’: Fans Hail Padikkal After Viral Hug at Sri Lanka vs India Test

Devdutt Padikkal earned plenty of praise from fans during India’s first Test against Sri Lanka after his quick thinking gave KL Rahul a crucial second chance at the crease.

Rahul was given out LBW and had already started walking back towards the dressing room when Padikkal intervened and urged his Karnataka teammate to review the decision. The review proved Padikkal right, with ball-tracking showing that the delivery was missing the stumps.

Rahul returned to the crease before sharing a heartfelt embrace with Padikkal, thanking him for the intervention. The moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising the camaraderie between the two Karnataka teammates.

KL Rahul starts walking back after LBW decision

The incident took place during India’s first Test against Sri Lanka when Rahul was given out LBW by the on-field umpire.

With the decision appearing to have gone against him, Rahul began walking towards the dressing room. Padikkal, however, immediately urged him to reconsider and take the DRS.

Rahul followed the advice and India’s review showed that the ball would have missed the stumps.

The decision was overturned, giving Rahul a crucial reprieve and allowing him to continue his innings.

KL Rahul hugs Padikkal after getting a second chance

The relief was evident as Rahul returned to the crease.

He then walked towards Padikkal and embraced his Karnataka teammate, acknowledging the role he had played in keeping him at the crease.

The exchange quickly became one of the more wholesome moments of India’s Test, with fans focusing less on the DRS decision itself and more on the players’ reaction to it.

Fans praise Devdutt Padikkal’s quick thinking

Fans on social media were quick to credit Padikkal for recognising that Rahul should review the decision.

“KL Rahul was given LBW. He started to walk back to dressing room, then Padikkal asked to take the DRS and it was missing – KL got another life. Then a big hug from KL to Padikkal,” CricCrazyJohns posted.

Another fan highlighted how close Rahul was to leaving the field before Padikkal stepped in.

“KL Rahul was walking off after he was given lbw but Paddikal told him to go upstairs. The ball was missing the stumps, KL Rahul came back and hugged Paddikal.”

One reaction went a step further, calling Padikkal the man who “saved KL Rahul” in the moment.

“Devdutt Padikkal saved KL Rahul here. He was the one who told him to go for the review when KL was already ready to walk back to the dressing room. And KL acknowledged it with that hug,” a fan wrote.

Another fan praised the “camaraderie” between the Karnataka teammates, noting that Rahul had been prepared to walk off without taking the review.

“Rahul wanted to walk off without risking a review. Padikkal asked him to review, which in the end turned out to be in Rahul’s favour. Rahul hugged his Karnataka teammate for the help.”

A separate reaction summed up the mood simply: “A beautiful moment.”

A sweet moment amid intense Sri Lanka vs India Test series

The incident was a reminder of how much can hinge on communication between teammates in Test cricket.

Rahul had seemingly accepted that his innings was over. Padikkal’s intervention changed that within seconds, with the technology confirming that the batter had been wrongly given out.

The resulting hug made the moment even more memorable, giving fans a glimpse of the camaraderie within India’s dressing room as the team continued its Test campaign against Sri Lanka.