BENGALURU: Devdutt Padikkal’s rise in the ongoing IPL season has been marked not just by runs, but by a heightened sense of awareness – of situations, his bowlers and his game. After scoring a 27-ball 55 in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans on Friday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, the southpaw pointed to an important factor behind his growth – the Karnataka captaincy.“Being a captain has definitely given me a different perspective on the game,” Padikkal said during the post-match press conference.“It made me think a lot about how a player thinks, how leaders on the field think, and what they might be looking to do,” he added.
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This shift was evident in the way he structured his innings alongside Virat Kohli. Coming in early in a sharp chase, Padikkal showed his intent, choosing the right moments to attack while ensuring that RCB stayed ahead at the required rate.Padikkal believes the added responsibility has made his decision-making more precise. “It gives me more understanding regarding the situation I’m in and how I need to respond,” he said, adding that the leadership role has helped him improve different aspects of his game. The result is a more complete T20 mix.But his progress did not come overnight. Padikkal was quick to dismiss the narrative of a sudden transformation, instead framing his journey as a work in progress.
He said: “The various conversations around me have been going on for a very long time. This is where I am now.” “You find things you need to work on and you keep getting better.”He admitted that there are technical differences between the formats, especially when switching from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. “If you compare my Ranji Trophy batting here, you can clearly see the changes,” he added. But he stressed that the basis has not changed: “Self-confidence and self-confidence must remain the same.”The 25-year-old also highlighted the impact of sharing a dressing room with Kohli.For a young batsman navigating his own path, observing one of the game’s greats has been enlightening. “The most important thing for me is his energy and intensity,” Padikkal said. “Even after achieving everything, he still gives 100% in every training session. It is very difficult to find that kind of commitment.”More than anything else, it’s the relentless drive that made an impression.
“When you see someone so passionate, it affects everyone,” Padikkal added.Meanwhile, GT assistant coach Vijay Dahia revealed that Kohli was frustrated that he did not reach a hundred despite winning Match 8. “After the match, he (Kohli) was saying that he could have turned it into a hundred. That tells you about his mentality. He is not playing to prove a point to anyone. It’s about the man in the mirror – trying to be better than yesterday,” Dahiya said.