Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batsman Devdutt Padikkal recently revisited his former school, St. Joseph’s Boys High School (SJBHS). The Bengaluru native spent three years at the school between 2013 and 2016. Principal Fr. Norwin Pereira said they are always happy to have students of his calibre return, especially as he’s a role model for youngsters.
From School Team Captain to Inspiration
In 2015, when Rahul Dravid inaugurated the SJBHS indoor sports facility, Padikkal, then the school cricket team captain, presented a memento to Dravid. Gowri Mirlay-Achanta, his former history teacher, noted that seeing the now 25-year-old Padikkal as the Karnataka Ranji team captain and RCB star batsman is a full circle moment. She recalled thinking that one day he would be in Dravid’s position receiving something big. Mirlay-Achanta, who has taught several of the school’s breakout cricketers, observed that they were all incredibly focussed and hard working.
The Coach Who Saw Potential
Padikkal’s high school coach recounted the test that led to Padikkal’s transfer to SJBHS in Class 8 from Army Public School. His parents were determined to give him the best chance. The coach, Mehboob Pasha, said that after a week of requests, they brought him in to play for an hour. Pasha remembers that Padikkal played wonderfully, and other team members mentioned he had scored a half-century in a previous inter-school match.
Pasha recalls that when the time came for the first match, a timid Padikkal was the only one to volunteer to open. He went on to score a century in that match.
Memories From the Classroom
Lisamma Joseph, Padikkal’s Class 8 biology teacher, remembered the rivalry between Josephites and Cottonians. She said that when Padikkal joined the school, they knew that with his height, he would hit sixes that would fly over the boundary. Padikkal captained his team to victories in KSCA’s U-14 and U-16 leagues during his three years at St. Joseph’s.
Shantha Kumar, Padikkal’s 10th standard class teacher, described him as a timid boy who was focussed on academics and had few friends. Hindi teacher Jennifer Gonsalves said he was not regular to school because of practice.
Padikkal’s parents were determined to give their son the best chance.