Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign in style with a convincing six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. The successful chase was anchored by a composed partnership between Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli, earning praise from experts and teammates alike.
Speaking on Star Sports’ ‘Amul Cricket Live’, Padikkal credited Kohli’s guidance during the chase.
“It feels great to start the season with a win, especially at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. When I went out to bat, Virat bhai asked me to keep the run-rate up and put pressure on the bowlers. My role was to take risks while he anchored the innings. His presence allowed me to play freely,” he said.
Padikkal also highlighted the belief within the team despite an early setback with Phil Salt’s dismissal. “We knew SRH’s bowling attack wasn’t the strongest, so we backed ourselves to chase it down. Maintaining pressure was key, and we executed that well,” he added.
Reflecting on his own growth as a T20 batter, Padikkal credited head coach Andy Flower and batting coach Dinesh Karthik for transforming his game.
“The credit for the evolution of my game goes to Andy Flower and DK bhai. They worked extensively on both my technique and mindset. T20 cricket has evolved a lot since I debuted in 2020, and it was important for me to adapt and believe that I can play an aggressive brand of cricket. They helped me build that confidence,” he noted.
Meanwhile, former South African pacer Dale Steyn praised Kohli’s continuous evolution as a batter.
“Players at Virat’s level look for marginal gains, and that’s exactly what he has done. His six-hitting ability has improved significantly over the last two seasons. Earlier, he had a fixed approach, but now his mindset has evolved. He backs himself to play aerial shots more consistently, which shows his class,” Steyn observed.
Steyn also analysed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s inability to defend a strong total of 201. He lauded Ishan Kishan for his well-crafted 80 but criticised the team’s bowling strategy.
“There were no clear plans from SRH’s bowlers in the second half. It’s difficult to defend 200-plus totals with that kind of attack. I was surprised that Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled only two overs in the Powerplay and didn’t return. They need better coordination between the captain and team management to use resources effectively,” he said.
The victory underlined RCB’s batting strength and strategic clarity, while also exposing areas of concern for SRH, particularly in their bowling execution and game management.
