RCB Mentor Dinesh Karthik Praises Devdutt Padikkal's Stellar Performance Against CSK
Dinesh Karthik Commends Padikkal's Performance
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India] - On April 6, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik expressed admiration for Devdutt Padikkal's impressive 50-run innings against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during their recent match. Karthik believes that if Padikkal maintains this level of performance, it will be challenging to exclude him from the Indian national team.
RCB triumphed over CSK by 43 runs in their second match of the IPL 2026 season, scoring an impressive 250 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs.
After the dismissal of Virat Kohli, Padikkal (50 runs off 29 balls) formed a crucial 56-run partnership with Phil Salt and followed it up with a rapid 58-run collaboration with Rajat Patidar in just 21 balls, laying a solid foundation for RCB. Tim David's explosive innings of 70 runs off 25 balls further propelled the team to their formidable total.
During an interview on JioStar, Karthik praised Padikkal's composed approach at the crease.
“If he keeps performing like this, it will be hard to keep him out of the Indian squad. He has been prolific in domestic cricket, and we recognize his talent. Additionally, it's commendable how he is emerging as a leader in the Karnataka team. At just 25, he shares valuable insights and leadership qualities, which is fantastic to witness,” Karthik remarked.
Karthik highlighted Padikkal's resilience and patience, noting his ability to avoid risky shots early in his innings.
“What stands out is his determination. On a pitch where runs are hard to come by initially, many players tend to force big shots and lose their wickets. Devdutt displayed remarkable patience during challenging moments. Once he hit his first boundary, he shifted gears effectively, playing proper cricketing shots and striking the ball with power,” he added.
Karthik also lauded Tim David for his outstanding innings, which featured eight sixes.
“Tim David is an exceptionally talented ball striker. He possesses a smooth swing and the necessary attributes to hit big shots. It's crucial for him to maintain consistency in practice. As a middle-order batsman, he often faces fewer deliveries than top-order players, so it's vital that he gets enough practice in the nets to stay in rhythm. His overall game has been strong, and he has been one of the most reliable batsmen in this format over the past 12-18 months,” he concluded.