Virat Kohli praised Devdutt Padikkal for his fearless batting that helped the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to start their Indian Premier League 2026 season with a strong win. On March 28, RCB beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Padikkal came in as an Impact Sub for Jacob Duffy and made an immediate impact. He brought up his fifty in just 21 balls and scored 61 off 26, hitting seven fours and four sixes. His aggressive approach put RCB in a strong position as they chased down 202 with 26 balls left.
How did Padikkal's knock impact Kohli's batting?
Kohli said Padikkal’s batting made a big difference and that he decided early on to give him more of the strike. After Phil Salt got out, Padikkal took control and didn’t allow SRH to settle.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Kohli blows flying kiss to wife Anushka after RCB's dominating win vs SRH
“Outstanding knock. Right from the word go, I had planned to be aggressive in the power play, but when I saw him play, I just wanted to keep him on strike, hitting the odd boundary here and there. He completely took the game away from the opposition,” Kohli told the broadcasters after the match.
“I remember telling him after that shot over mid-on off the slower ball for six, just keep going, you’re hitting the ball so well, keep pushing and take the game away from the opposition. We finished with 25–26 (26) balls to spare, and we are going to get a boost in net run rate as well,” Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 69, said.
Padikkal continued his purple patch in IPL 2026
Padikkal came into the IPL after a strong domestic season in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 543 runs at an average of over 60, including a highest score of 232 against Uttarakhand. Kohli said he wasn’t surprised by the performance and believes Padikkal has top-level ability.
ALSO READ: Not Duffy or Shepherd, SRH coach names RCB's 25-year-old star as game-changer
“His knock was tremendous. I’ve seen him up close, and the skill he possesses is incredible. Coming off a great domestic season with the red ball, his timing, head position, and balance were all world-class. I knew what he could do if confident, and tonight was just a display of his sheer talent,” Kohli added.
RCB will now look to continue their winning run when they face Chennai Super Kings on April 5 in Bengaluru.