Devdutt Padikkal Celebrates Stellar Performance Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026

In a thrilling match against Gujarat Titans, RCB's Devdutt Padikkal delivered an impressive performance, hitting six sixes and scoring 55 runs. He praised Virat Kohli's relentless energy and influence on the team, emphasizing how Kohli's dedication inspires the squad. RCB's victory not only showcased Padikkal's talent but also solidified their position in the IPL 2026 standings. Discover more about this exciting match and Padikkal's reflections on his best innings yet.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 25, 2026, 08:25 IST

Padikkal Reflects on His Best IPL Performance

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 25: Star batter Devdutt Padikkal of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has hailed his innings against Gujarat Titans (GT) as his standout performance in the ongoing IPL 2026. He also commended Virat Kohli for his unparalleled intensity and influence on the team.

During the post-match press conference following RCB's convincing victory over GT, Padikkal emphasized a significant highlight of his innings—his ability to hit sixes.

"The most significant aspect for me was the number of sixes I managed to hit... I struck six sixes, which is not something I usually do," Padikkal remarked. "Being able to achieve that was quite special," he added.

He described this innings as his best in the tournament thus far, stating, "This was probably my finest innings in the IPL so far."

Padikkal also shared insights about the influence of playing alongside Virat Kohli, noting the senior batter's relentless work ethic and passion, even after achieving so much.

"His energy and intensity are the biggest takeaways for me... in every game and every practice session," Padikkal noted, emphasizing Kohli's unwavering commitment.

"Despite his accomplishments, he continues to give his all in every practice and match," he remarked, highlighting such dedication as rare at the elite level.

Padikkal pointed out that Kohli's drive and enthusiasm positively impact the entire team. "Seeing someone so motivated really inspires everyone in the squad," he said, adding that Kohli's energy is uplifting the whole team.

In their chase of 206 runs, RCB faced an early setback when GT pacer Mohammed Siraj dismissed opener Jacob Bethell, leaving RCB at 26/1 within three overs. However, the rest of the top order stepped up. Virat Kohli scored a brilliant 81 off 44 balls, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 55 runs off 27 balls.

The pair formed a solid partnership, accumulating 115 runs in just 59 balls, keeping the required run rate manageable.

After the quick dismissals of Kohli and Padikkal, the match tightened as Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar took crucial wickets, leaving RCB at 175/5 after 16 overs.

RCB faced challenges in their chase, losing Rajat Patidar (8) and Jitesh Sharma (10). With 31 runs needed from the last four overs, the pressure mounted, but Krunal Pandya (23 not out off 12 balls) emerged as the hero for RCB.

Krunal aggressively attacked the GT bowlers, scoring 15 runs in the 18th over, which significantly eased the pressure. Tim David also contributed with a quick 10 runs off nine balls.

In the 19th over, Krunal sealed the victory by pulling a short ball from Jason Holder to deep square leg, leading RCB to a total of 206/5 in 18.5 overs. This win secured two crucial points, propelling RCB to second place in the IPL 2026 standings, with 10 points from seven matches, including five wins and two losses.