Devdutt Padikkal heaped praise on Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain’s unbeaten hundred lifted the franchise to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. In a candid reflection on batting with Kohli, Padikkal compared it to “watching greatness” up close, saying the experience of sharing the dressing room with a player of Kohli’s stature is genuinely special.
Kohli’s unbeaten century steers RCB home
Kohli delivered a match-defining knock of 105 not out off 60 balls as RCB chased down a target of 193 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur with five balls remaining. The innings featured the kind of authority Bengaluru fans have come to expect—Kohli struck 11 fours and cleared the ropes three times to record his ninth IPL century.
- Kohli: 105* off 60 deliveries
- RCB chase: 193, finished with five balls to spare
- Boundaries in the innings: 11 fours and three sixes
- Milestone: Kohli’s ninth IPL hundred
Padikkal’s role in the second-wicket platform
While Kohli anchored the chase, Padikkal provided the essential early momentum. The 39 he scored came during a decisive 92-run partnership for the second wicket, a stand that set the base for Bengaluru to complete the chase successfully.
Padikkal also singled out a particular shot that caught his eye during the run chase. He said Kohli’s straight drive off Anukul was a kind of stroke only Kohli seems able to execute, and added that he hopes the veteran continues to add plenty more runs for the team.
- Padikkal scored 39
- Second-wicket partnership: 92 runs
- Key chase moment praised: Kohli’s straight drive off Anukul
What Padikkal said about batting with Kohli
Padikkal’s compliments went beyond the scoreboard, focusing on how Kohli’s reading of match situations makes partnerships smoother. He said that being around Kohli is something he feels grateful for, and that Kohli understands the tempo of the game so well—knowing when to apply pressure on the opposition and when to slow things down to build a stable partnership.
He also described the recent context of the chase, noting that in the last couple of matches Bengaluru had lost wickets in clusters. Padikkal stressed that the team had to ensure they had wickets in hand while chasing a target of this size, so they could push towards the finish and convert the chase into a comfortable win.
Key quotes from Padikkal
- Padikkal said watching Kohli play in front of him is “really special” and something he’s grateful for.
- He added that Kohli’s ability to judge tempo helps make batting easier, including knowing when to pressure the opposition and when to step back to build the partnership.
- Padikkal explained that, given their tendency to lose wickets in clusters recently, Bengaluru ensured they maintained wickets in hand to chase strongly and finish the job.
RCB regain form and set sights on Punjab Kings
The win also had immediate table implications. With the result, RCB reclaimed the top position on the points table, building momentum for the final stretch of the league phase. Padikkal pointed to the importance of maintaining consistency at this stage, especially after a few rough patches in earlier games.
He said every win matters more as the tournament reaches its “fag end,” and that carrying momentum and building the habit of winning comfortably was central to the team’s approach. Padikkal further credited Bengaluru’s turnaround to focusing on fixing small errors after earlier narrow defeats, describing how they had to regroup and get the smaller details right.
- Result impact: RCB moved back to the top of the points table
- Padikkal’s emphasis: consistency in the final league phase
- Team context: earlier narrow losses before bouncing back strongly versus KKR
- Reason cited for turnaround: correcting small mistakes and regrouping after tough games
RCB will now shift their attention to their next fixture against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala. Padikkal said the venue holds personal significance for him because he received his Test cap there, and he expressed excitement about returning to the ground. The 25-year-old added that he is looking forward to the match and hopes Bengaluru can secure another victory.
- Next match: Punjab Kings vs RCB
- Venue: Dharamshala
- Personal note: Padikkal received his Test cap in Dharamshala
- Expectation: hopes RCB can win again
