Devdutt Padikkal Shines in RCB's IPL 2026 Opener Against SRH
RCB Triumphs Over SRH in IPL 2026 Season Opener
Devdutt Padikkal, a key player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed his joy following the team's victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) during the opening match of the IPL 2026 season at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Padikkal shared insights on Virat Kohli's guidance while batting, as he played a pivotal role in the chase with a remarkable innings of 61 runs off just 26 balls, featuring four sixes and seven fours. His impressive strike rate of 234.62 was instrumental in chasing down SRH's target of 202 runs. Kohli also contributed significantly with an unbeaten 69 runs from 38 balls, and together they formed a formidable partnership of 101 runs in just 45 balls, leading RCB to victory with 26 balls to spare.
Insights on Kohli's Guidance and Strategy
During an interview on Star Sports' 'Amul Cricket Live', Padikkal elaborated on his batting approach, crediting Kohli for his strategic advice. He expressed his excitement about starting the season with a win at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium, which holds sentimental value for the team and its supporters. Kohli's key instruction was to maintain a high run rate and apply pressure on the bowlers while he anchored the innings. Padikkal remarked, "It feels great to kick off the new season with a victory, especially in Bengaluru. We wanted to repay our fans who supported us last year. Virat bhai's only advice was to keep the run-rate up and challenge the bowlers. My role was to take risks while he steadied the chase."
Playing Freely with Kohli's Support
Padikkal noted that Kohli's presence allowed him to play without pressure and take calculated risks. Despite an early wicket loss of Phil Salt, they maintained an aggressive stance to prevent SRH from staging a comeback. He stated, "His presence alleviated the pressure on me, enabling me to play freely. We recognized that SRH's bowling attack wasn't particularly strong, so we were confident in our ability to chase down the target smoothly. Even after losing Phil Salt early, it was crucial to keep the pressure on to avoid giving SRH a chance to recover. We executed that strategy well and secured the win."
Acknowledging Coaches for T20 Development
Padikkal attributed his T20 evolution to RCB's head coach Andy Flower and batting mentor Dinesh Karthik, emphasizing their role in enhancing both his technical skills and mental approach. He remarked, "The transformation of my game is largely due to Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik bhai. They invested significant effort into my development. It was a challenging process, requiring changes not just technically but also mentally. I had to cultivate the belief that I could play this aggressive style of cricket."
"T20 cricket has undergone significant changes over the past five or six years. When I entered the IPL in 2020, the game was quite different from what it is today. It was essential for me to have confidence in my abilities, and I feel that Andy and DK helped me achieve that," he added.
Match Summary: IPL 2026 Opener
In the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first and managed to recover from an early collapse, scoring a competitive total of 201/9. After losing three quick wickets during the power play, Ishan Kishan's outstanding performance, scoring 80 runs off 38 balls, along with significant contributions from the lower order, propelled SRH past the 200-run mark. Ankiet Verma also made a notable impact with a quick 43 runs off 18 balls.
For RCB, Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd each took three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma claimed one wicket each.
In response, Kohli's unbeaten 69 runs and Padikkal's explosive 61 runs led RCB to chase down the target successfully. Skipper Rajat Patidar also made a quickfire contribution of 31 runs off 12 balls. RCB achieved the target in just 15.4 overs, marking the fastest chase of 200-plus runs in IPL history.