In IPL 2026 opening match in Bengaluru on Saturday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Devdutt Padikkal shed his linear nature against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Padikkal magnificently blasted pacer Jaydev Unadkat’s full ball over backward square leg on his pads for a six. For a batter for whom flip is one of the most important shots, it was not an uncommon sight.
However, Padikkal rarely hits a six from the opening ball, thus it was unprecedented. Before letting loose on the bowlers, the left-hander usually settles down.
Padikkal hit two more sixes and three fours in the next ten balls he faced, reaching 34 in 11 balls with a strike rate that was close to 300. His 26-ball 61 was actually a good example of how his batting has changed since 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
Padikkal has scored 543 runs at an average of 60.33 in the Ranji Trophy, 725 runs at an average of 90.62 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and 309 runs at an average of 167.02 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during this time. Karnataka coach Yere Goud was not at all shocked by his ward’s performance versus SRH.
“I think that boils down to his preparation. He is very clear about it. He goes about it keeping in mind the probability phase of plays — it changes according to where he is batting from — powerplay, mid-overs or the rest. I think that’s contributing to his consistency,” Goud told PTI.
Goud also said that Padikkal’s confidence as a batter and an individual has increased significantly as a result of leading Karnataka.
“See, he would have done all these, I think, without captaincy also. But leading a side has its benefits, as he talks and learns from others in the team. There is that extra responsibility on the captain, and I think it has added some strong edges to his game now,” said Goud.
Goud’s version echoed in Padikkal’s own words.
“(RCB) Head Coach Andy Flower and Batting Coach Dinesh Karthik bhai really worked hard on me. It wasn’t easy because there was a lot I needed to change. It wasn’t just technical; it was a lot mentally as well. I needed to really believe that I can play this aggressive brand of cricket,” PTI quoted Padikkal telling Star Sports.
Padikkal’s batting at the Chinnaswamy demonstrated this shift. Padikkal was put to the test by left-arm bowler David Payne with a slower ball, but he saw it coming and danced down the pitch to dismiss it for a six over the mid-wicket.
The 25-year-old reacted with a rasping cut past the point fielder for a boundary after pacer Eshan Malinga dug one a little short, closer to his body. The Karnataka batter drag-swept the ball to square leg for a four despite left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey’s attempt to pitch the ball away from his hitting arc by going wide on off-stump.
In all of these shots, Padikkal maintained his natural lethargy, but there was an obvious hint of ruthlessness and purpose in the shot-making.
Daniel Vettori, the coach of SRH, evaluated it correctly.
“I think Padikkal’s innings…he came in, hit the first ball for six, struck it over 200, took on all bowlers, and allowed Virat to get into his innings, even though he was striking quickly too. I thought the impetus that he showed when he came in was the real difference,” PTI quoted Vettori as saying in the post-match press conference.
But Virat Kohli, who was observing Padikkal’s innings from the opposite end, gave the best complement.
“I had plans of going aggressive in the powerplay, but when I saw him play, I was like, keep putting him back on strike and hit the odd boundary here and there. His timing with the ball was phenomenal, his head positions, his balance, absolutely world class,” said Kohli.
Padikkal may have added his name to India’s pool of white-ball talents on Saturday.
