Devdutt Padikkal has been instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) run to the playoffs in IPL 2026. The left-handed batter said that batting alongside Virat Kohli during his debut IPL season with RCB helped him understand how to build an innings in T20 cricket.
Learning from the Best
Padikkal, who made his IPL debut for RCB in 2020, said observing Kohli closely played a major role in his early development as a batter. "When I made my IPL debut with RCB in the 2020 season, I felt ready. I had a solid run of scores in domestic cricket behind me," Padikkal said during an interaction on JioStar. "And batting with Virat Kohli, one of the greatest in the game, was a huge help. At that age, watching him build an innings gave me so much clarity and understanding of how to construct a knock. That made a big difference in my growth," he added.
Adapting to Different Roles
The Karnataka batter said his later stints with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants helped him improve as he had to bat in different positions. "Moving from being a dedicated opener to batting in different positions lower down the order was challenging, especially at a young age. But those experiences with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants shaped me into the player I am today," he said. "Batting at different numbers taught me how to read situations, construct innings under pressure, and adapt my game."
Overcoming a Tough Season
Padikkal also spoke about his difficult IPL 2024 season and said the phase helped him identify areas that needed improvement. "The 2024 IPL season was a tough one. Bouncing back from a difficult season is never easy. During that season, a lot was going on in my head," he said. "You must go through the phase, accept it, and figure out how to come out better. Once the season ended, I knew exactly what I had to work on."
Technical and Mental Adjustments
Padikkal credited RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik and head coach Andy Flower for helping him work on both technique and mindset after returning to the franchise. "I made several changes to my batting technique with the help of Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower. I needed to adjust a few things to shift from red-ball to white-ball cricket," he said. "Mentally, I had to bring more intent into my game. I needed to go out with the mindset of looking to score off every ball. Once I did that, the results started showing."
RCB's Batting Depth
Padikkal said RCB's batting depth gives top-order batters the freedom to play attacking cricket. "Having a powerful and deep batting lineup at RCB is a luxury. When you know the batting order is strong all the way down, it gives you extra confidence to play freely at the top," he said. "You have to be ready to sacrifice your wicket if it helps the team score an extra 20 or 30 runs quickly."
Praise for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Padikkal also praised Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his batting ability. "What Vaibhav Sooryavanshi does is truly unique. At his age, to have that kind of power and explosiveness in his batting is special," he said. "He is a rare talent, and what he does is incredible."
