Devdutt Padikkal enjoys the good times

BENGALURU: RCB's run this season has been marked by consistency and driven by teamwork. Homegrown hero Devdutt Padikkal, luckily, has been at the centre of it all.In nine matches, the southpaw has scored 230 runs (SR 154.36). The Bengaluru batter has added stability to the top order, owning the No. 3 position. “It does help when you have some clarity on what your role is. But at the same time, you must go out and execute,” he said on Friday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Padikkal believes the early momentum provided by the explosive Phil Salt and the seasoned Virat Kohli has helped him pace his innings. Who's that IPL player?“It's important that you continue that momentum (provided by the openers). In most games, I've been able to do that. At the same time, when you have so many experienced cricketers around, it gives you that freedom to just go out there and have fun. When you have people like Virat and Salt at the top and you know they have some really good power-hitting coming towards the end, it makes your job easier. You don't have too much pressure to go long in the innings,” he said.Padikkal, who made his T20I debut in 2021, has been through testing times, with the worst coming in 2022. An intestinal issue worsened over time and his career was at a crossroads. Having put his health issues behind him, Padikkal has focused on mental health, which has translated into results, including the best strike rate of his six-season IPL journey.Speaking about the turnaround, Padikkal said, “It's a mental shift that you need to make when you come into T20 cricket. You need to understand that the game has evolved, and you have to be with the times. A lot of work has also gone into the shots that I want to play.” After a forgettable 2024, in which he scored a mere 38 runs in seven matches, Padikkal has upped his game this time around. “During the last couple of years, I didn't have too much preparation leading into IPL. That probably had an effect on my batting. So, it's good that this year, I got that opportunity and really worked on it as well on the road to IPL,” he said.