Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik has voiced strong backing for Devdutt Padikkal, emphasizing the southpaw’s outstanding performance as he vies for a spot in the Indian T20I squad. Karthik commended Padikkal’s calmness in pressure situations and consistent displays, suggesting that the selectors will face a challenge in overlooking him in a team already brimming with talent.
Padikkal has kicked off the IPL 2026 season with consecutive half-centuries for RCB. In the match against Chennai Super Kings, he overcame a slow start to notch a fifty off 29 balls, aiding RCB in posting a monumental total of 250 in 20 overs, their highest against the five-time champions. In the opening encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he played a more aggressive innings, scoring 61 runs off 21 deliveries, including four sixes.
“He doesn’t escape our notice,” Karthik stated to JioHotstar after RCB’s triumph over CSK on Sunday. “His determination stands out. On a challenging pitch like this, it’s easy for a batsman to make rash decisions after a good start. The courage he displayed when the going got tough at the beginning is truly commendable. Once he found his rhythm, he turned things around.”
“He is playing in a way that makes it hard to keep him out of the Indian team for long. He is executing traditional cricket shots and striking the ball powerfully over long distances. He is a genuine Test player and has amassed over 2,000 runs this season,” Karthik added.
When questioned about Padikkal’s potential role in the national team, given the depth of the squad that clinched the T20 World Cup recently, Karthik described it as a “pleasant dilemma” for the selectors. He highlighted that the Karnataka batsman would be a strong contender for selection post IPL 2026.
Karthik also underscored Padikkal’s influence extending beyond his batting prowess. The 25-year-old, who led Karnataka in the previous domestic season, is emerging as a significant figure within the team’s leadership group.
“At 25, Padikkal has encountered significant highs and lows in his career. Even his promising stint with RCB in IPL 2025- scoring 247 runs in 10 matches-was cut short due to an injury.”
Padikkal’s rise was almost thwarted by a chronic intestinal ailment and a persistent stomach infection that impacted his health severely between 2021 and 2023. Despite setbacks, Padikkal made a remarkable comeback through a rigorous recovery process involving dietary changes and a tailored fitness routine, leading to his Test debut in 2024.
Over the past years, Padikkal has excelled in domestic 50-over cricket, accumulating impressive runs in tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His red-ball performances in the Ranji Trophy are likely to bolster his case for a Test comeback, with a strong IPL season being crucial for his selection in India’s T20I squad.