This is the new Devdutt Padikkal: RCB star embraces new fiery version in IPL 2026

Devdutt Padikkal has always been easy on the eye. Timing, balance, and that effortless flow through the off-side made him one of the more pleasing batters to watch in the Indian Premier League (IPL). But for all that elegance, there was always a lingering question around intent, especially in a format that demands you to take the game on from ball one.

IPL 2026 is answering that question in the most emphatic way possible. This is not the Padikkal who eases himself in anymore. This is a version that is taking first-ball risks, clearing boundaries early, and forcing bowlers to rethink their plans within the first over itself.

RCB vs GT: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD

And the numbers are catching up with the eye test. A strike rate pushing 185, sixes coming at a rate he has never managed before, and a clear shift in how he approaches phases of the innings. This is not just form. This is transformation.

Against Gujarat Titans, the shift was on full display. Chasing 206, Padikkal smashed 55 off 27 balls, bringing up a 20-ball fifty and setting up a 115-run second-wicket stand with Virat Kohli. By the time he fell to Rashid Khan, the game had already tilted decisively in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s favour.

HOW PADIKKAL HAS TRANSFORMED HIS GAME

This is not a one-off innings. It is part of a clear shift.

Padikkal’s strike rate in the first ten balls of his innings this season stands at 170.18, a massive jump from 126.51 last year and just 74.42 the year before. That change alone reflects a batter who is no longer easing into innings but dictating them from the start.

In 99 T20 innings until 2024, his strike rate stood at 131.98. Since then, across 22 innings, it has jumped to 165.36. In IPL 2026, it has gone even higher to 184.07.

The intent is visible in his shot-making. Earlier, he was not known for taking on length deliveries consistently. This season, that has flipped. His strike rate against length balls has surged from 111.31 to 221.73, while his balls-per-six ratio has improved drastically from 29.31 to 5.11.

That explains moments like the six over cover off Mohammed Siraj or the flick over fine leg against Kagiso Rabada. These are not low-risk strokes. They are statements of intent.

“IT’S TIME WE FORGET THE PREVIOUS VERSION”

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Padikkal was clear that this change has been deliberate.

“I think it’s time we forget the previous version. The conversations around me being different have gone on for far too long. This is who I am now,” he said.

“That’s how a career progresses. You identify things you need to work on and then you work on them. I’m still young, I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.”

That clarity is showing in how he approaches his innings. There is no hesitation anymore, no waiting period. He is committing to his shots early and backing his range.

HOW RCB’S ENVIRONMENT HAS HELPED

Sometimes, all a player needs is clarity. Padikkal seems to have found that at RCB.

The move back to RCB has played its part. Padikkal spoke about the environment, and it sounded like a dressing room that has given him a clear brief. Go out, back your game, and do not second-guess yourself.

“The moment I joined RCB, the setup here has been really good. The management have given me the direction and pathway I wanted. DK and Emo, I can name everyone. The environment they’ve created in this group has been special, and that has really helped me.”

That backing is visible in his role. He is not just holding an end up. He is being trusted to take the game on in the powerplay and beyond, something he has embraced fully.

WHAT HAS CHANGED TECHNICALLY AND MENTALLY

The aggression might grab attention, but it is built on detail.

Padikkal pointed out that a lot of this shift has come from technical tweaks. Small changes that allow him to access more areas and play with more intent.

“I think a lot of it is technical. There are a few changes you need to make when transitioning from red-ball cricket to white-ball cricket. But at the end of the day, self-belief and confidence have to remain the same.”

“Yes, I’ve made a few technical adjustments coming into the IPL. If you compare videos of me batting in the Ranji Trophy and here, you can clearly see the changes I’ve made.”

Those tweaks are showing. Against GT, he hit six sixes in just 27 balls. Earlier, when he hit six sixes in an innings, it took him at least 46 deliveries. This was quicker, sharper, and far more ruthless.

NUMBERS BACK THE NEW PADIKKAL

The stats are starting to catch up with the shift.

Padikkal has 208 runs in six innings this season and is already closing in on his entire tally from last year. His strike rate sits at 184.07, comfortably the highest of his career.
Then come the sixes. 13 already this season. He hit 14 in the whole of the previous one.

But more than numbers, it is impact. His starts are changing games early. Bowlers are being pushed back in the powerplay. Chases are being controlled before they even get tense.
That 115-run stand with Kohli was a perfect example. By the halfway mark, the asking rate had dropped to 8.80. The game was not just under control. It was already leaning one way.

Devdutt Padikkal always had the game. IPL 2026 is showing he now has the intent to match it.

And that makes him a very different problem for bowlers.

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