BENGALURU: Devdutt Padikkal’s ascent in the current IPL has been driven by more than just the runs he’s been scoring; it’s also coming with a sharper understanding of the game’s moving parts—match situations, opposition bowlers, and the way his own approach needs to evolve ball by ball. After producing a decisive 55 off 27 deliveries in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s five-wicket triumph over Gujarat Titans on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Padikkal linked his progress to a new responsibility he’s embraced off the field: captaining Karnataka.
Padikkal credits leadership for a sharper cricket brain
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Padikkal explained that the captaincy role has widened his view of what happens during a contest. “Being a captain has definitely given me a different perspective on the game,” he said. He added that it has made him more deliberate in reading the contest—how bowlers are thinking, and how captains on the field weigh options and anticipate phases of play.
That change was visible in the way he shaped his innings alongside Virat Kohli during a chase that demanded urgency from the outset. Padikkal came in early in a steep pursuit, showed intent from the beginning, and then picked his moments to attack while still keeping RCB ahead of the required run rate.
Growing responsibility improves decision-making
Padikkal believes the added duties have helped sharpen his choices during pressure moments. “It gives me a little more understanding as to the situation that I’m in and how I need to respond,” he said. He also suggested that leadership has allowed him to fine-tune different elements of his T20 skillset, resulting in a more rounded batter.
Not an overnight transformation — a process of refinement
The youngster was also quick to push back against the idea that his improvement has been sudden. Instead, he framed his current form as the continuation of work already underway. “The conversations around me being different have been going on for far too long. This is who I am now,” Padikkal said. “You find things you need to work on and you keep improving.”
He acknowledged that technical adjustments are often required when switching formats, particularly when moving from red-ball cricket to the demands of white-ball games. “If you compare my Ranji Trophy batting to here, you can clearly see the changes,” he added. Even so, he stressed that the core belief stays constant: “The self-belief and confidence need to stay the same.”
Influence of sharing the dressing room with Kohli
Padikkal also pointed to the value of learning day to day from Virat Kohli, noting the impact of sharing the dressing room with one of the sport’s benchmark players.
- He said the “biggest thing” he notices is Kohli’s energy and intensity.
- Padikkal highlighted that even after achieving major milestones, Kohli still gives “100 per cent in every session”.
- He added that such commitment is rare, and it leaves a clear impression on everyone around him.
In a separate note, Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya revealed that Kohli was disappointed not to reach a century despite making a match-influencing contribution of 8 runs. Dahiya said Kohli felt he could have converted the knock into a hundred. “After the game, he (Kohli) was saying he could’ve converted it into a hundred. That tells you about his mindset,” Dahiya said. He added that Kohli is not playing simply to prove a point to anyone, but rather focused on self-improvement—“It’s about the man in the mirror – trying to be better than yesterday.”
Padikkal’s comments, following RCB’s win at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, further underline how his captaincy experience and learning environment are shaping his T20 outlook—turning raw aggression into smarter execution as the season progresses.
