Last season, Padikkal amassed 543 runs with an average close to 60 in the Ranji Trophy and combined for over 1000 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Karnataka coach Yere Goud expressed his admiration for the southpaw’s impressive batting during the match.
“I believe it all comes down to his preparation. He is very focused on this. He adjusts his approach based on the phase of play he is in—whether it’s the powerplay, mid-overs, or the later stages. This is a key factor in his consistency,” Goud told PTI.
He also noted that captaining Karnataka has instilled greater confidence in Devdutt both as a player and an individual.
“I believe he could have achieved a lot without being a captain. However, leading a team certainly has its advantages, allowing him to communicate and learn from his teammates.
“The captaincy brings additional responsibility, and I think it’s added some sharp edges to his game,” Goud remarked.
Devdutt echoed Goud’s sentiments.
“(RCB) Head Coach Andy Flower and Batting Coach Dinesh Karthik bhai have really invested time into my development. It was challenging because I had numerous changes to make. It wasn’t just technical; it was also a mental shift. I had to believe I could play this aggressive style of cricket,” Devdutt shared with Star Sports.
This transformation was visible in his batting at the Chinnaswamy.
Left-arm pacer David Payne tested Devdutt with a slower delivery, but he read it quickly and danced down the pitch, launching it over mid-wicket for a six.
Pacer Eshan Malinga bowled a slightly shorter ball towards Devdutt, but he responded with a powerful cut shot past the point fielder for four.
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey attempted to keep the ball away from his hitting zone, pitching wide on the off-stump, but Padikkal drag-swept it to square leg for a boundary.
Devdutt maintained his natural elegance in these shots, yet infused a newfound ruthlessness and intent into his shot-making.
SRH coach Daniel Vettori assessed the situation astutely.
“I think Padikkal’s innings were significant… He came in, hit the first ball for six, scored over 200, took on all the bowlers, and allowed Virat to settle in, even while he was scoring rapidly as well.
“The momentum he brought upon his arrival was pivotal,” Vettori stated in the post-match press conference.
Nevertheless, the finest praise came from the player observing Devdutt’s innings from the other end—Virat Kohli.
“I intended to play aggressively during the powerplay, but witnessing him perform made me want to keep him on strike and score some boundaries. His timing, head position, and balance were absolutely world-class,” remarked Kohli.
India possesses a wealth of white-ball talent, and on Saturday, Devdutt may have solidified his place within that elite group.
(With PTI inputs)
First Published: Mar 29, 2026 7:39 PM IST
