Devdutt Padikkal’s resurgence lifts Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Devdutt Padikkal has emerged as a key player for RCB in IPL 2026, scoring quick runs and showing maturity. He credits past failures for motivating him to work harder, with Dinesh Karthik praising his evolution as a complete T20 batter

Hyderabad: Devdutt Padikkal’s resurgence has emerged as one of the standout storylines of IPL 2026, with the left-hander playing a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s opening two victories. Scores of 50 off 29 against Chennai Super Kings and 61 off 26 against Sunrisers Hyderabad have set the tone for the season, highlighting not just form but the evolution of a player who has rebuilt his game with intent and resilience.

Having first risen through the ranks with RCB as a technically sound top-order batter, he enjoyed early success in the IPL, forming strong partnerships and displaying maturity beyond his years. However, as the format evolved, the demands forced him into a period of introspection and adjustment.

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Speaking on that phase, Devdutt Padikkal said, “When things didn’t go well, I didn’t have answers. But that phase gave me motivation and fire to get better. Sometimes you need those failures along your journey to remind you how much harder you need to work.”

A return to RCB in 2025 was the turning point.

“The underlying factor was that he was very excited to play for RCB,” Dinesh Karthik revealed. “On the first call, he said he couldn’t be happier playing for any other team than RCB. I represented RCB and I remember coming and watching matches as an RCB fan. That set the tone for how we looked at him and how we wanted him to achieve certain things. His message was clear, ‘I’m here and I want to make a difference. Just tell me what you need.’ From that day, the first day in the camp, he was a man on a mission.”

With clarity around his role and a commitment to evolve, Padikkal worked on expanding his game, particularly his scoring intent in T20 cricket.

“When I got the opportunity with RCB again, I decided there were a lot of things I needed to change. I had to commit to working on those things regardless of the outcome. It’s not easy when you’ve grown up playing a certain way. I could have easily accepted that I’ll stick to test cricket, but it was important for me to come out of that comfort zone and adapt.”

With that resolve, Devdutt went on to score 247 runs, with a strike rate of 150, across 10 matches for RCB in 2025.

The Resurgence
That growth is now translating into performance. His 50 off 29 against CSK showcased controlled aggression, while the 61 off 26 against SRH reflected a player operating at a higher tempo, a clear indicator of his evolution in the shortest format.

“In 2020-2021, I was a lot more scared as a young kid coming in. Over the years I’ve learned to handle everything that goes around in the IPL. At this point, I’ve reached a stage of maturity where I understand what I need to do to be at my best. I feel calmer and more composed, and I’m really enjoying my cricket,” Devdutt reflected.

Speaking on Padikkal’s growth, Dinesh Karthik said, “Devdutt Padikkal coming into 2025 was a very different player to the one that left RCB earlier. He has learned to handle everything that comes with playing in the IPL, and the way he has adapted his game has been very impressive. If he continues in this rich vein of form, I don’t think Team India can ignore him across formats. He is batting at a level which is a touch above many other players.”

As he continues to build on this strong start, Padikkal’s journey stands as a testament to persistence, adaptability and clarity of purpose. Two matches into IPL 2026, he is not just among the runs, he is setting the benchmark for what a complete T20 batter looks like in the modern game.