NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have started their IPL 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, with batsman Devdutt Padikkal revealing the tactical change behind their early success. With two wins in two matches, RCB sit at the top of the standings, displaying a refined batting approach that combines caution with calculated aggression.
Speaking after their convincing 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru, Padikkal explained that the team has consciously addressed its past batting weaknesses. The new strategy revolves around preserving wickets in the first half of the innings before unleashing an all-out assault in the latter stages.
‘Hold wickets, then attack’
Padikkal highlighted that the change in focus is due to the lessons learned last season. “Even last season we had a couple of games early on where we struggled and ended up losing maybe three or four wickets and then that put us on the defensive,” he said.
“We had a conversation mid last year that we needed to make sure that when the wicket behaves that way, you have to make sure you have wickets in hand. Once the ball gets older, it becomes a lot easier to bat,” he added.
The left-hander highlighted that avoiding early collapses has been key. “We had to make sure we weren’t three or four down at the 10-over mark. Once we were able to do that, we were able to bowl strongly on every ball. The way the entire unit has been batting since then has been incredible,” he said.
This approach has already borne fruit as RCB posted big totals and kept the pressure on the opposition bowlers through timely acceleration.
The evolution of Padikkal and the injection of confidence
Padikkal, who has been in good form with scores of 61 and 50 in the first two matches, attributed his improvement in the white-ball formats to a conscious change in mentality and technique.
“It’s a lot of hard work and self-belief. It wasn’t easy to make that change because I had to alter the foundations of the type of cricket I wanted to play as a child,” he admitted.
“The change was something I had to do consciously and the RCB support staff have been brilliant in guiding me on the right path,” he added, underlining the role of the team environment in his transformation.
Balance of Power and Tim David Factor
While T20 batting has seen an increasing emphasis on power hitting, Padikkal believes the evolution is part of a natural progression. “Batting has gone to another level. Everyone is working hard to hit big sixes and fours. Now it is up to the bowlers to improve their game too,” he said, adding that the conditions could eventually even out the competition.
Padikkal also reserved special praise for his teammate Tim David, whose explosive 70 off 25 balls dismantled the Chennai attack. “We see him do this every day in practice. He is very clear about which player to target and when. That clarity makes a big difference,” he said.