IPL 2026: Devdutt Padikkal Credits State Captaincy for His Growth Devdutt Padikkal’s performance in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marked by both consistent runs and a deeper understanding of the game, which he attributes to his role as captain of the Karnataka cricket team. Following his standout 27-ball 55 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Padikkal highlighted how leading Karnataka has reshaped his approach to cricket. “Being a captain has given me a different perspective on the game,” he said during a post-match press conference. “It’s made me think more about how bowlers and captains strategize on the field and what they might aim to achieve.” Padikkal’s growth as a T20 batter became evident in his innings alongside Virat Kohli during the chase. Entering the innings early in a tight chase, he balanced aggression with calculated risk-taking, ensuring RCB maintained a competitive run rate. The 25-year-old emphasized that the leadership role has sharpened his decision-making. “It gives me a better understanding of the situation I’m in and how I need to respond,” he said. “The captaincy has helped me refine different aspects of my game, making me a more complete T20 batter.” Despite his recent form, Padikkal dismissed the notion of a sudden transformation, framing his progress as an ongoing journey. “The conversations about me being different have been going on for too long,” he said. “This is who I am now. You find areas to work on and keep improving.” He acknowledged the technical adjustments required when transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket, noting visible differences between his Ranji Trophy batting and his IPL performances.#karnataka #virat_kohli #royal_challengers_bengaluru #devdutt_padikkal #vijay_dahiya
