Devdutt Padikkal credit’s his debut IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as a foundational period in his career, primarily due to the opportunity to open the batting alongside Virat Kohli. The young batter notes that sharing the crease with one of the modern greats allowed him to closely observe and master the intricate art of building a T20 innings. This early education proved crucial, providing him with a tactical blueprint on how to balance aggression with stability, a philosophy that continues to dictate his style of play today.
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Watching Kohli build an innings gave me so much clarity: Devdutt Padikkal
Bursting onto the big stage during the 2020 edition of the tournament, Padikkal quickly established himself as a bright prospect while learning the ropes under immense pressure. He emphasizes that watching Kohli operate from the non-striker's end provided invaluable, first-hand insights that no coaching session could replicate. Witnessing how the veteran maestro managed game situations, rotated the strike, and accelerated during the middle overs served as a masterclass that significantly accelerated his own growth as a top-order batsman.
"When I made my IPL debut with RCB in the 2020 season, I felt ready. I had a solid run of scores in domestic cricket behind me. And batting with Virat Kohli, one of the greatest in the game, was a huge help. At that age, watching him build an innings gave me so much clarity and understanding of how to construct a knock. That made a big difference in my growth," Padikkal said during an interaction on JioStar.
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'Experiences with RR and LSG shaped me into the player I am today'
The elegant Karnataka batsman explained that his subsequent stints with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants served as a crucial secondary phase in his professional evolution. Transitioning away from his familiar role at the top of the order, he was tasked with floating across multiple positions in the batting line-up, forcing him to adapt to vastly different match situations. This tactical flexibility drastically broadened his overall understanding of the game, as it required him to develop a more versatile skillset suited for both the powerplay and the high-pressure middle overs.
Navigating these changing roles across different franchises ultimately transformed him into a more complete cricketer. Padikkal noted that stepping out of his comfort zone allowed him to view T20 strategies through a wider lens, moving beyond the mindset of a traditional opener. By learning to read game situations from the middle order, he gained a deeper appreciation for the mechanics of a full innings, turning what could have been a challenging positional shift into a valuable learning experience
"Moving from being a dedicated opener to batting in different positions lower down the order was challenging, especially at a young age. But those experiences with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants shaped me into the player I am today," he added.
"Batting at different numbers taught me how to read situations, construct innings under pressure, and adapt my game. The 2024 IPL season was a tough one. Bouncing back from a difficult season is never easy. During that season, a lot was going on in my head. You must go through the phase, accept it, and figure out how to come out better. Once the season ended, I knew exactly what I had to work on," he signed off.