India plays 10 T20Is across June and July, and Padikkal will hope to play his first T20I since 2021. | Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Since the advent of the Impact Player rule, T20 batting has shifted from calculated stroke play to unapologetic hammering. With the intention of maximising the field restrictions, top-order batters have rewritten the conventions of taking on the new ball. However, there are still a few who have looked to accelerate while retaining the core of their timing-induced, easy-on-the-eye caress of the willow. One such batter is Devdutt Padikkal of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The 25-year-old’s promise with the bat has been evident for everyone to see over the last few years. His bucketloads of runs in domestic cricket have also propelled him to the fringes of the senior India team. But what has been most eye-catching is his development in the shortest format of the game. After a torrid season with the bat in 2024, during which he managed just 38 runs in seven innings, the Bengaluru-based franchise bought him at base price after he had initially gone unsold. His batting in the 20-over format has truly flourished since returning to the team where he made his debut as a teenager in 2020.

“I wasn’t really sure I was going to be picked in the first place because of how bad the LSG stint was. There was a part of me that had made peace with that,” said Padikkal, who was slotting in at No. 3 for India in the Perth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, on auction day. “I always wanted to be part of the IPL because this is the platform where you can improve the most. You are surrounded by great players, great coaches. You don’t get this quality in domestic cricket,” he added.

The right backing

The southpaw says RCB’s show of faith was the biggest motivator behind the conscious shift in his T20 approach.

“We had a couple of camps in Bengaluru after the auction. We had DK [Dinesh Karthik], Andy [Flower] and Mo [Bobat] there. We worked on things that were specific to my technique. But more importantly, they gave me confidence in certain aspects of the game that I lacked,” the 25-year-old said.

He also credited the influence of Dinesh Karthik, who has witnessed the IPL’s evolution first as a player, then as a captain and now as a mentor.

“He has very good conversation skills; he knows how to talk to different people. He gives us tactical information on dealing with different phases of the game. That kind of information is very unique because every player thinks differently,” he said.

One of the major reasons behind Padikkal’s success over the last two seasons has been the clearly defined role handed to him at No. 3. At Rajasthan Royals, he was forced to bat as low as No. 5 and 6 at times.

“The role has been simple for the last two years. I have to continue the momentum in the PowerPlay. You cannot afford to slow down after a wicket. The conversations [with the management] were mainly about them giving me the belief that I’m capable of doing that. Because it’s such a major shift, it’s very easy to accept that maybe that’s not your game and you can’t do it,” he explained.

Augmenting his game

So, what exactly has Padikkal changed in his batting to facilitate this improved run-scoring? Not much technically, he says. The bigger shift has been mental. Batters were once encouraged to spend five to 10 deliveries settling in before attempting to find boundaries consistently. Scores of 180-190 were considered imposing. The game has moved far beyond that now.

“I’m not really trying to focus on the numbers in terms of strike rate. It’s about making sure that I have that intent from ball one. If the ball is there where I want it to be and if there is a boundary opportunity, I want to take it,” the southpaw said.

“It’s not just my mindset changing, cricket has evolved. I’ve just tried to make sure I keep learning, keep adding to my game as much as possible every season. And I think that’s something that you have to keep doing because if you don’t, then you stagnate and you don’t move forward,” he added.

Another facet of his batting that has improved since bursting onto the scene in the UAE in 2020 is his power game. Padikkal, once associated exclusively with crisp shots through the gaps, has now shown that he can clear the ropes with ease when required.

“I think it’s about age at the end of the day. When I first came in, I was 19-20 years old. You can’t expect me to hit to the second tier when I am 20 years old. You can see people at 15 doing it. Probably that’s a different story altogether,” he joked.

“When I looked at myself when I was 20, I didn’t think I could do it. That was just how I was built. As I have put on weight, I have grown up a little bit in terms of muscle as well.”

Finding the balance

The exponential rise in boundaries and strike rates in the shortest format has forced batters to place a lower premium on preserving their wicket. Padikkal recognises that modern batting cannot be measured by the same yardsticks as before.

“It’s difficult to chase consistency in IPL. The main thing in IPL is to create as much impact as possible. You have to see how much impact you create in wins. Very few players are consistent in the IPL. It’s very hard to get to that level. That is the eventual aim,” the RCB batter outlined.

The right approach is easier to develop for batters who grow into T20 specialists early. Since batting largely revolves around reaction, making intricate adjustments to routines across formats remains one of the biggest challenges.

“Everyone wants to have a game that can suit different formats, and it’s not easy to find that. That’s what I’m looking to do because obviously I have ambitions to play all three formats. I’m trying to find a game and technique in which I can really shift more effortlessly, rather than having to completely reset my batting style,” the Karnataka red-ball captain said.

“The plans that I have for a particular bowler before the game have to be very clear so that when I go out there, I don’t have too many things in my head because that’s when the formats can overlap and you stop thinking clearly,” he added.

Finding this sweet spot is often dependent on the work put in during the offseason. But with the calendar growing increasingly congested each year, players get very little time for self-analysis. Padikkal, however, believes that cannot be used as an excuse.

“Ideally, you would like to have some time before each tournament, especially when you’re moving formats. But that’s not an excuse anymore. It’s your career at the end of the day and you cannot rely on others giving you a break to improve.

“You have to be prepared to really make that shift mentally. I feel, at this level, it’s a lot more mental than technical because everyone is technically very good,” the batter said.

What lies ahead

Every domestic season, Padikkal features among the leading run-scorers irrespective of the format, unless he is travelling with the Indian team. Despite nearly five years of being spoken about as the next big thing in Indian batting, he has played only two Tests and as many T20Is for the country. It is not something that keeps him awake at night, though.

“I have always wanted to play for India, no matter which format I play in. I am continuously working towards that. There is only so much you can do. You have to keep working hard, keep scoring runs. The rest is up to the selectors and the management to look at.

“I am really happy with where I am with my game. I am improving every day and getting better at the things I want to improve. As long as I am doing that, I think I will be on the right path,” the top-order batter said.

The intense competition for places in the Indian team offers no immediate solution. Padikkal may have to wait longer for an extended run, especially in the white-ball setup. But judging by his determination to evolve and remain relevant through this long, uncertain process, Padikkal appears well placed to make it count when the opportunity arrives.

Published on May 13, 2026