Virat Kohli Lauds Devdutt Padikkal's Stellar Performance in IPL 2026 Opener
Virat Kohli Praises Devdutt Padikkal
In a thrilling start to IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. While Virat Kohli was the standout performer, the team faced an early challenge when they lost their first wicket at just nine runs.
However, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal steadied the innings, with Kohli, a veteran of Indian cricket, hailing Padikkal as a world-class batsman.
Kohli's High Praise for Padikkal
Padikkal showcased his batting prowess, scoring 61 runs off just 26 balls. Kohli expressed his admiration for Padikkal's performance, stating,
“An outstanding innings. From the start, I planned to play aggressively during the powerplay. But when I saw Padikkal play, I thought just keep him on strike and let him hit boundaries. He completely took the match away from the opposition. When he hit a six over mid-on, I told him to keep playing like that.”
Kohli further elaborated on Padikkal's skills, saying,
“I told Padikkal that he was hitting the ball beautifully, just keep pushing and take the game away from the opposition. If we win with 25-26 balls to spare, it will also benefit our net run rate. Padikkal's innings was phenomenal. I've seen him play closely. He is now utilizing his skills effectively. His timing, head position, and balance were absolutely world-class. I know what he can do when he's confident, and he showcased that ability in this match.”
Kohli Attributes Performance to Retirement from Test and T20 Formats
Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test and T20 formats. Last year, during the IPL, he bid farewell to Test cricket, and shortly after, he, along with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, announced their retirements following India's victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
Reflecting on his recent T20 performances, Kohli remarked,
“It feels great to be back on the field. Regarding T20 cricket, the last match I played was the final last year, but I believe my recent batting in the ODI series has really helped me maintain my rhythm. I wasn't playing shots that I usually don't play. So, I knew that as long as I maintained my rhythm and worked on my fitness behind the scenes, things would go well. Yes, tonight was another opportunity to start well and carry it forward.”