Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Devdutt Padikkal feels the pace of change in the IPL has forced a rethink for everyone involved—especially bowlers. With batting standards rising to a new level across the league, he believes the onus now shifts to bowlers to raise their own performances and keep pace with the batters’ growing influence. Padikkal pushed back against the idea that T20 cricket is tilting too far in favour of hitters, arguing instead that the quality of batting has simply advanced. Speaking after RCB’s 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, he said the tournament’s batting has gone up “another level,” with players working intensely to clear the ropes and find boundaries at will.
He underlined that this evolution inevitably changes bowling responsibilities. “When you take your batting to another level, it’s now the bowler’s job to really follow that and try to take their game up,” Padikkal said, suggesting bowlers must respond not with the same plans from earlier seasons, but with sharper execution and better matchups as hitters become more ruthless.
Padikkal also backed RCB’s bowling group, pointing to how they managed the contest under pressure even without the presence of a fully fit Josh Hazlewood. He highlighted that the side still had “some really quality bowlers” doing the job, and that restricting CSK to under 210—particularly at the Chinnaswamy—was a strong outcome. “We got them all out and restricted them under 210, which is pretty good, especially in the Chinnaswamy,” he added.
On a personal level, Padikkal is enjoying an encouraging run this season, with back-to-back scores of fifty. He attributed his improved form to discipline and a renewed belief in his process. The batter explained that the adjustment was not straightforward at first, because it required changing the base of his game—what he learned growing up and the type of cricket he had built his approach around.
As he settled into RCB’s style, Padikkal embraced the franchise’s aggressive brand of batting, where batters aim to attack from the earliest phase rather than waiting for conditions to develop. “When you have such explosive batting power to come, it makes your job very clear. You have to make sure that you keep the momentum going,” he said, framing the role as one of sustaining pressure once the innings takes off.
Padikkal also singled out Tim David, calling the teammate a major inspiration. David’s impact in the match came through a quickfire 70 not out off 25 balls, featuring eight sixes, and Padikkal praised the mindset behind it. “Every ball he faces, he’s trying to hit for a six. Especially in the phase he comes in, that’s his sole role. He’s done that so well,” he said.
Reflecting on what separates modern T20 batting from the past, Padikkal stressed the value of preparation. In his view, having clarity and confidence alongside well-defined plans makes a significant difference in execution. “Once you have those plans in place and clarity, it makes your job a lot easier,” he said.
While he acknowledged that he is a different type of batter, Padikkal admitted that he draws lessons from David’s fearless approach. “If you can emulate that confidence, it augurs well for the whole team,” he concluded, linking individual belief to collective success in the high-pressure world of IPL cricket.
