Royal Challengers Bengaluru opening batter Devdutt Padikkal altered the foundation of his batting technique to improve his performance in white-ball cricket [1, 2].
This shift represents a significant pivot in Padikkal's career as he attempts to move beyond his traditional comfort zone. By adopting a more aggressive style, he aims to increase his scoring rate and confidence during the high-pressure environment of the Indian Premier League.
The transformation began in early 2026 ahead of the current season [1, 3]. Padikkal said the process of changing his technical base was difficult because it conflicted with the type of cricket he had played while growing up [2].
"It wasn't easy to change the foundation of my batting," Padikkal said [1].
Results of the adjustment appeared early in the campaign. During the IPL 2026 opener on March 29, 2026 [2], Padikkal scored 61 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad [1]. This performance highlighted a more swashbuckling approach to the opening overs.
Beyond technical drills, Padikkal credited the influence of veteran teammates for his progress. He said that learning the art of innings-building from senior players helped him refine his game [1, 5].
"Batting with Kohli made a big difference in my growth," Padikkal said [5].
The batter said that the transition required a combination of hard work and self-belief to ensure the new foundation could withstand the demands of T20 cricket [3]. He continues to implement these changes across matches in cities such as Lucknow and Bengaluru [4].
"It wasn't easy to make that change because it was something that I had to change from the foundation that I had in terms of the type of cricket I wanted to play growing up," Padikkal said [2].
“"It wasn't easy to change the foundation of my batting."”
Padikkal's technical overhaul reflects a broader trend in modern T20 cricket where traditional batting foundations are often discarded in favor of high-strike-rate aggression. By combining a new technical base with the mentorship of Virat Kohli, Padikkal is attempting to evolve from a steady accumulator into a destructive opener, which is essential for maintaining a starting position in the competitive IPL ecosystem.
