The 25-year-old\u2019s promise with the bat has been evident for everyone to see over the last few years. His bucketloads of runs in domestic cricket have also propelled him to the fringes of the senior India team. But what has been most eye-catching is his development in the shortest format of the game. After a torrid season with the bat in 2024, during which he managed just 38 runs in seven innings, the Bengaluru-based franchise bought him at base price after he had initially gone unsold. His batting in the 20-over format has truly flourished since returning to the team where he made his debut as a teenager in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t really sure I was going to be picked in the first place because of how bad the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) stint was. There was a part of me that had made peace with that,\u201d said Padikkal, who was slotting in at No. 3 for India in the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, on auction day. \u201cI always wanted to be part of the IPL because this is the platform where you can improve the most. You are surrounded by great players, great coaches. You don\u2019t get this quality in domestic cricket,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The right backing<\/b><\/p>\n
The southpaw says RCB\u2019s show of faith was the biggest motivator behind the conscious shift in his T20 approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a couple of camps in Bengaluru after the auction. We had DK [Dinesh Karthik], Andy [Flower] and Mo [Bobat] there. We worked on things that were specific to my technique. But more importantly, they gave me confidence in certain aspects of the game that I lacked,\u201d the 25-year-old said.<\/p>\n
He also credited the influence of Dinesh Karthik, who has witnessed the IPL\u2019s evolution first as a player, then as a captain and now as a mentor.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has very good conversation skills; he knows how to talk to different people. He gives us tactical information on dealing with different phases of the game. That kind of information is very unique because every player thinks differently,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
One of the major reasons behind Padikkal\u2019s success over the last two seasons has been the clearly defined role handed to him at No. 3. At Rajasthan Royals, he was forced to bat as low as No. 5 and 6 at times.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe role has been simple for the last two years. I have to continue the momentum in the PowerPlay. You cannot afford to slow down after a wicket. The conversations [with the management] were mainly about them giving me the belief that I\u2019m capable of doing that. Because it\u2019s such a major shift, it\u2019s very easy to accept that maybe that\u2019s not your game and you can\u2019t do it,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
![\"Devdutt](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/tbiqqi\/article70973393.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/IPL%202026%206.JPG\" "\\"Devdutt")
<\/p>\n\n | Photo Credit:
\n SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP\n <\/p>\n
![\"lightbox-info\"\/](\"https:\/\/assetsss.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/SSRX\/lightbox-info.svg\")
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Devdutt Padikkal has credited his growth at RCB to the clarity of communication from head coach Andy Flower, Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and batting coach and mentor, Dinesh Karthik.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Augmenting his game<\/b><\/p>\n
So, what exactly has Padikkal changed in his batting to facilitate this improved run-scoring? Not much technically, he says. The bigger shift has been mental. Batters were once encouraged to spend five to 10 deliveries settling in before attempting to find boundaries consistently. Scores of 180-190 were considered imposing. The game has moved far beyond that now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not really trying to focus on the numbers in terms of strike rate. It\u2019s about making sure that I have that intent from ball one. If the ball is there where I want it to be and if there is a boundary opportunity, I want to take it,\u201d the southpaw said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just my mindset changing, cricket has evolved. I\u2019ve just tried to make sure I keep learning, keep adding to my game as much as possible every season. And I think that\u2019s something that you have to keep doing because if you don\u2019t, then you stagnate and you don\u2019t move forward,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Another facet of his batting that has improved since bursting onto the scene in the UAE in 2020 is his power game. Padikkal, once associated exclusively with crisp shots through the gaps, has now shown that he can clear the ropes with ease when required.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s about age at the end of the day. When I first came in, I was 19-20 years old. You can\u2019t expect me to hit to the second tier when I am 20 years old. You can see people at 15 doing it. Probably that\u2019s a different story altogether,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I looked at myself when I was 20, I didn\u2019t think I could do it. That was just how I was built. As I have put on weight, I have grown up a little bit in terms of muscle as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finding the balance<\/b><\/p>\n
The exponential rise in boundaries and strike rates in the shortest format has forced batters to place a lower premium on preserving their wicket. Padikkal recognises that modern batting cannot be measured by the same yardsticks as before.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s difficult to chase consistency in IPL. The main thing in IPL is to create as much impact as possible. You have to see how much impact you create in wins. Very few players are consistent in the IPL. It\u2019s very hard to get to that level. That is the eventual aim,\u201d the RCB batter outlined.<\/p>\n
The right approach is easier to develop for batters who grow into T20 specialists early. Since batting largely revolves around reaction, making intricate adjustments to routines across formats remains one of the biggest challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone wants to have a game that can suit different formats, and it\u2019s not easy to find that. That\u2019s what I\u2019m looking to do because obviously I have ambitions to play all three formats. I\u2019m trying to find a game and technique in which I can really shift more effortlessly, rather than having to completely reset my batting style,\u201d the Karnataka red-ball captain said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe plans that I have for a particular bowler before the game have to be very clear so that when I go out there, I don\u2019t have too many things in my head because that\u2019s when the formats can overlap and you stop thinking clearly,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Finding this sweet spot is often dependent on the work put in during the offseason. But with the calendar growing increasingly congested each year, players get very little time for self-analysis. Padikkal, however, believes that cannot be used as an excuse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally, you would like to have some time before each tournament, especially when you\u2019re moving formats. But that\u2019s not an excuse anymore. It\u2019s your career at the end of the day and you cannot rely on others giving you a break to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be prepared to really make that shift mentally. I feel, at this level, it\u2019s a lot more mental than technical because everyone is technically very good,\u201d the batter said.<\/p>\n
![\"Despite](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/iq1km4\/article70973398.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/IMG_TH23BATTER_2_1_6VDK8DQ3.jpg\" "\\"Despite")
<\/p>\n Despite nearly five years of being spoken about as the next big thing in Indian batting, Devdutt Padikkal has played only two Tests and as many T20Is for the country.\u00a0
\n | Photo Credit:
\n Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
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Despite nearly five years of being spoken about as the next big thing in Indian batting, Devdutt Padikkal has played only two Tests and as many T20Is for the country.\u00a0
\n | Photo Credit:
\n Getty Images\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
What lies ahead<\/b><\/p>\n
Every domestic season, Padikkal features among the leading run-scorers irrespective of the format, unless he is travelling with the Indian team. Despite nearly five years of being spoken about as the next big thing in Indian batting, he has played only two Tests and as many T20Is for the country. It is not something that keeps him awake at night, though.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always wanted to play for India, no matter which format I play in. I am continuously working towards that. There is only so much you can do. You have to keep working hard, keep scoring runs. The rest is up to the selectors and the management to look at.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really happy with where I am with my game. I am improving every day and getting better at the things I want to improve. As long as I am doing that, I think I will be on the right path,\u201d the top-order batter said.<\/p>\n
The intense competition for places in the Indian team offers no immediate solution. Padikkal may have to wait longer for an extended run, especially in the white-ball setup. But judging by his determination to evolve and remain relevant through this long, uncertain process, Padikkal appears well placed to make it count when the opportunity arrives.<\/p>\n
Published on May 13, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n