Young Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Devdutt Padikkal faced the wrath of fans for his sluggish knock against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 8th match of IPL 2023 in Guwahati on April 5.After being asked to bat first, the PBKS side managed to get 197/4 on the scorecard in 20 overs. Openers Shikhar Dhawan (86*) and Prabhsimran Singh (60) starred for them in the batting department.In response, RR got off to a brisk start but lost three wickets inside the powerplay. They were at 57/3 after 5.4 overs. Devdutt Padikkal (21 off 26 balls) came in to bat at this juncture, at the fall of Jos Buttler's wicket.Sanju Samson continued to play aggressively at the other end while Padikkal struggled to match his batting rhythm. His sedate pace eventually brought the downfall of Samson (42 off 25 balls), who perished trying to up the ante.Riyan Parag (20) then hit a couple of boundaries and entertained the fans at his home ground. He also suffered the same fate as his skipper in the 15th over though.Devdutt Padikkal's painful 26-ball stay at the crease came to an end in the same over as Nathan Ellis put him out of his misery by cleaning him up. RR eventually lost the match by five runs after valiant cameos from Shimron Hetmyer (36) and Dhruv Jurel (32*).Fans were highly critical of Padikkal's sedate knock in a steep chase. They slammed him brutally through their reactions on Twitter.Here are some of the most eye-catching reactions:TukTuk Academy@TukTuk_AcademyCometh the hour, cometh the man!Lord Paddikal scored might 21 runs off just 26 balls with lightning strike rate of 80 that too on batting pitch.....uffffff #RRvPBKS2117226Cometh the hour, cometh the man!🔥🔥Lord Paddikal scored might 21 runs off just 26 balls with lightning strike rate of 80 that too on batting pitch.....uffffff😍🙈 #RRvPBKS https://t.co/wiYN4y6aCsHarsha Bhogle@bhogleharsha#RR left too much to do at the end. Most days no 4 has to be a go-getter and Padikkal, a young man with a lot of promise, is struggling at the moment454#RR left too much to do at the end. Most days no 4 has to be a go-getter and Padikkal, a young man with a lot of promise, is struggling at the momentIndianPremierLeague@Niji_S7For his excellent knock under pressure in the chase, Devdutt Padikkal receives the Player of the Match award @PunjabKingsIPL register a 5 run win32483For his excellent knock under pressure in the chase, Devdutt Padikkal receives the Player of the Match award 👏👏 @PunjabKingsIPL register a 5 run win👌 https://t.co/bAYskame2eOggy 💙@SirOggyBillaPadikkal And Hetmyer Today:#RRvsPBKS #Padikkal6811Padikkal And Hetmyer Today:#RRvsPBKS #Padikkal https://t.co/0s66KOy8RBFactos@I_say_factos@mufaddal_vohra Well done Padikkal. 12th man of PBKS and RCB today. 26413@mufaddal_vohra Well done Padikkal. 12th man of PBKS and RCB today. 👏 https://t.co/sMFMfbUAZ9supremo `@hyperKohliThe best thing RCB did till date is releasing Devdutt Padikkal 56560The best thing RCB did till date is releasing Devdutt Padikkal 😭😭 https://t.co/IScTZ6VtHKAnurag Dwivedi 🏏@AnuragxCricketPadikkal vs Other batsman of Rajasthan Royals in chase. #RRvPK357Padikkal vs Other batsman of Rajasthan Royals in chase. #RRvPK https://t.co/cmzS9TkVZOPratham.@76thHundredWhxnThe RCBian inside Devdutt Padikkal is still alive.23620The RCBian inside Devdutt Padikkal is still alive. https://t.co/2hT6wkfvNKKriti Singh@kritiitweetsNo wonder Devdutt Padikkal was playing so slow vs Punjab Kings #RRvPBKS | #IPL2023 | #TATAIPL26738No wonder Devdutt Padikkal was playing so slow vs Punjab Kings 😹#RRvPBKS | #IPL2023 | #TATAIPL https://t.co/KCjToEOnSFTanya Bhardwaj || 🐘 owner@DithasnotitsWhy y'all hate Padikkal ? He's a generational batsman coz he performs once in a generation #RRvPBKS14111Why y'all hate Padikkal ? He's a generational batsman coz he performs once in a generation #RRvPBKS https://t.co/iOahtJdfK1Smart MSDian@HonestMsdFanPadikkal is the next Dhoni (pic unrelated)8316Padikkal is the next Dhoni (pic unrelated) https://t.co/87hXSjD3zUవేటగాడు@rao_4005Padikkal37086Padikkal https://t.co/K1suNWb1C8Vikram@vikkram1995Jurel is all class. Effectively ended Padikkal's RR career too #IPL23 #ipl12Jurel is all class. Effectively ended Padikkal's RR career too #IPL23 #ipl https://t.co/2QxN59dZ3SDan Weston@SAAdvantageIn my view, Rajasthan’s recruitment of Padikkal is the perfect example of signing a player without a clear plan of how to use them.It’s not fair on a player to be recruited & play a totally different role. He’s a talented player (much better than he’s shown) but needs to open.33340In my view, Rajasthan’s recruitment of Padikkal is the perfect example of signing a player without a clear plan of how to use them.It’s not fair on a player to be recruited & play a totally different role. He’s a talented player (much better than he’s shown) but needs to open.Heisenberg ☢@internetumpireWhen will RR stop terrorizing us with Padikkal in the middle order? Guy is a proper opener and they're ruining him and themselves with this.105453When will RR stop terrorizing us with Padikkal in the middle order? Guy is a proper opener and they're ruining him and themselves with this.Pulkit🇮🇳@pulkit5DxFinished Devdutt Padikkal25649Finished Devdutt Padikkal😭 https://t.co/WaCKx7jUIYSMM@Shhy10Padikkal innings actually made people forget that he wasted a review for a wide that brushed his thighs 7716Padikkal innings actually made people forget that he wasted a review for a wide that brushed his thighs 😂Fahir Maithutty@fahir_meRajasthan Royals batting above and below Devdutt Padikkal.644Rajasthan Royals batting above and below Devdutt Padikkal. https://t.co/fH8ZP22vQcẞ@PackedBishhCrazy how Padikkal never fails to perform against RR697Crazy how Padikkal never fails to perform against RR https://t.co/J8sq8CZzqlMahiEra@themahieraThey compared this Devdutt Padikkal to Ruturaj Gaikwad🤣🤣🤣🤣13310They compared this Devdutt Padikkal to Ruturaj Gaikwad🤣🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/bjv7RKIiVRsudhanshu’@whoshudDevdutt Padikkal trying to increase his SR182Devdutt Padikkal trying to increase his SR https://t.co/ZPbuTLrdIZHimanshu Pareek@Sports_HimanshuPadikkal suffering in Rajasthan Royals middle order:Padikkal suffering in Rajasthan Royals middle order: https://t.co/RveoDunr8XSaurabh Malhotra@MalhotraSaurabhPadikkal isn't exactly going through a great time in his career, and RR are making it harder for him by batting him out of positions. Today was an excellent chance to open with him.401Padikkal isn't exactly going through a great time in his career, and RR are making it harder for him by batting him out of positions. Today was an excellent chance to open with him.Karthik Raj@kartcricFans wondered how Jaiswal and Padikkal could fit together. Fans were right🤷485Fans wondered how Jaiswal and Padikkal could fit together. Fans were right🤷Cricketologist@AMP86793444Devdutt Padikkal is nowhere near the player we thought he would be two seasons ago. Just reflects on the unpredictability and unreliability of the format and league cricket. Hopefully he turns the corner soon.1Devdutt Padikkal is nowhere near the player we thought he would be two seasons ago. Just reflects on the unpredictability and unreliability of the format and league cricket. Hopefully he turns the corner soon.TROLL PAKISTAN CRICKET@TrollPakistaniiThe RCBian inside Devdutt Padikkal is still alive. #KKRvsRCB #RRvPBKS #RCBvKKR41The RCBian inside Devdutt Padikkal is still alive. #KKRvsRCB #RRvPBKS #RCBvKKR https://t.co/vW0mBmC7l3मेमे का 14@Khel_ka_14Easy man of the match award for padikkal for playing well against RR🫡🫡#RRvsPBKS #IPL2361Easy man of the match award for padikkal for playing well against RR🫡🫡#RRvsPBKS #IPL23 https://t.co/lr8CasemVhMahiEra@themahieraGenerational Talent Devdutt PadikkalEven our Shivam Dube is better than him forget comparison to Ruturaj121Generational Talent Devdutt PadikkalEven our Shivam Dube is better than him forget comparison to Ruturaj https://t.co/jN971mh0j2gurkaran@gurkaransinghhhPadikkal going to the punjab dressing room after the game#PunjabKings #RRVSPBKS #padikkal1Padikkal going to the punjab dressing room after the game#PunjabKings #RRVSPBKS #padikkal https://t.co/Eb0q8RZHHWsourav@Purplepatch22Devdutt Padikkal batting highlights vs PBKS today:478Devdutt Padikkal batting highlights vs PBKS today: https://t.co/XdM2ZZgpMxSai Teja@csaithejaDevdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan in this IPL.5819Devdutt Padikkal, Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan in this IPL. https://t.co/Y8zZoqCkZVCamlin@CAMLlNSending Padikkal in the 13th over with Run rate over 10201Sending Padikkal in the 13th over with Run rate over 10 https://t.co/Zx3TgrlinF"We wanted a left-hander in the middle order instead of Devdutt Padikkal opening" - Sanju Samson after the loss against PBKSSpeaking at the post-match presentation, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson shed light on why they promoted Ashwin up the order to open the innings, ahead of Devdutt Padikkal.It was a forced move, as Jos Buttler suffered a minor injury while taking a catch in the final over of the first innings. Buttler could, therefore, not take the field and open the innings in the chase.On the matter, Samson said:"It was a really good track to bat on, especially in the powerplay. They had a really good powerplay, and that gave them momentum. It is a high-scoring venue here but we did reasonably well to pull them back. [On Ashwin opening] Jos was having a stitch on his finger."We knew they had a left-arm spinner and a leg-spinner in the middle, so we wanted a left-hander in the middle order instead of Devdutt Padikkal opening."Samson added:"Jurel has been with us in the last two seasons. Lots of work has gone behind him. These guys put in lots of work, 5-6 weeks of camp, coming over to the academy and practicing for thousands of balls. (Venue) Was expecting dew to come in the second half but it was there throughout. Normally, we should have high scoring games here and we'll be prepared for the same."Rajasthan Royals will next face Delhi Capitals on April 8, Saturday, in Guwahati.