Guwahati, April 9 -- Devdutt Padikkal's impressive start to IPL 2026 has quietly brought him back into the India selection conversation, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter showing signs of a more confident and evolved player after starting the season with two explosive half centuries.
What stands out this season is the shift in his scoring rate. In 2025, Padikkal played a crucial role at the top of the order for RCB, scoring 247 runs in 10 matches at an impressive strike rate of 150.61. In 2026, he has already piled up 111 runs in just two games (61 off 26 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad and 50 off 29 deliveries against Chennai Super Kings) at a strike rate of 201.82, reflecting a clear change in intent without losing his ...