IPL 2026: Devdutt Padikkal attributes steady growth to national captaincy

BENGALURU: Devdutt Padikkal’s rise in the ongoing IPL season has been reflected not only in runs but also in growing awareness of situations, bowlers and the game. The left-hander pointed out an important factor behind his growth – captaincy of Karnataka – after hitting a decisive 27-ball 55 as Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.“Being captain has definitely given me a different perspective on the game,” Padikkal said at the post-match press conference.“It made me think more about what the bowlers are thinking, what the captain is thinking on the field and what they might do,” he added.This shift is evident in the way he structures his innings with his teammates Virat Kohli. In a tight chase, Padikkal showed intent as he chose his moments to attack while ensuring that RCB stayed ahead of the required pace.Padikkar believes that more responsibility has sharpened his decision-making. “It gave me a lot more understanding of the situations I was in and how I needed to respond,” he said, adding that the leadership role helped him perfect different aspects of his game. The result is a more complete T20 batsman.However, his progress did not happen overnight. Padikkar is quick to refute talk of a sudden turn of events, instead viewing his journey as a work in progress. “The conversation around me about being different has gone on for too long. This is who I am now,” he said. “You find things you need to work on and you keep improving.”He acknowledged that there are technical differences between formats, especially when moving from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. “If you compare my Ranji Trophy batting with here, you can clearly see the change,” he added. But he stressed that the fundamentals remain the same: “Confidence and confidence need to remain the same.”The 25-year-old also highlighted the impact of sharing a dressing room with Kohli.For a young batsman who is making his own way, it is instructive to observe one of the greats of the game. “The biggest thing for me is his energy and intensity,” Padikkar said. “Even after everything he accomplished, he still gave 100 percent in every practice. That kind of commitment is hard to find.”Above all, the relentless drive impresses. “When you see someone so enthusiastic, it affects everyone,” Padikkar added.Meanwhile, GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya revealed that despite Kohli winning 8 matches, he was disappointed at not reaching a hundred. “After the match, he (Kohli) said he can convert it into a hundred. That says something about his mentality. He is not playing to prove a point to anyone. It is about the man in the mirror – trying to be better than yesterday,” Dahiya said.