India, April 25 -- Devdutt Padikkal has shown this IPL season that he has shifted up a gear, becoming a key part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's batting line-up. Known earlier for his elegant strokeplay, he has added more range to his game this year, handling short-pitched bowling better and showing a more fearless intent from the outset. That change has allowed him to play with greater freedom in the powerplay and keep the scoreboard moving. Across his IPL career, he has maintained a strike rate of a little over 130, but this season he has taken it to another level, striking at 184.07. The improvement has given RCB a strong start in several innings and eased pressure on the middle order. His ability to adapt to different match situation...