Devdutt Padikkal admitted that frequent team changes hindered his development as a cricketer in the Indian Premier League ( IPL ), describing it as "challenging". The young batter started his IPL journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2020 before moving to Rajasthan Royals after two seasons.
"It's definitely challenging when you are not settled on any side. As a 21-year-old, I was in RCB and when I made that move to another franchise, it was a little uncomfortable, obviously," Padikkal said at the press conference following RCB's win over Mumbai Indians on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium.
"I wasn't very confident about myself and it took me three-four years to really find what I am as a cricketer in the IPL. It's not that easy. You try your hardest, but at times it just doesn't work," he added.
After his move from RCB, Padikkal spent two seasons with Rajasthan, before going to Lucknow Super Giants in 2024, eventually finding his way back to his home team RCB this season.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Though he hasn't produced significant knocks so far this season, Padikkal displayed glimpses of his pedigree with brisk 37 runs off 22 deliveries against Mumbai on Monday during RCB's 12-run win.
Padikkal mentioned that during the pre-season training, he focused specifically on addressing and correcting particular weaknesses in his batting technique.
"Coming into this season, obviously, I had to work really hard. I knew there were things that I needed to improve on. There were lots of aspects of the game that I wasn't up to the mark I felt in the last year. I had a good couple of months before the IPL started and I feel all that hard work is coming into effect now," he said.
Padikkal, who formed a crucial 91-run partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli that enabled RCB to post a formidable target of 222 against MI, expressed that sharing the crease with the batting legend is special.
"Obviously, batting with Virat is a pleasure. He's done this over and over again for so many years, so that's the level of consistency that you aim for as a young cricketer playing the IPL," he said.
"He makes it look easy, but it isn't that easy to be honest, to come in every single year and get above 400-500 runs. As youngsters in the team, we are looking to learn that from him," he said.
During RCB's defence of their target, Padikkal was replaced by 'Impact Sub' Suyansh Sharma, and not being on the field made it pretty "boring" for him.
"It is a rule that they feel helps the game. Hopefully, I can eventually start fielding again because it's pretty boring sitting out and watching," he added.
"I feel I can make that difference when I'm on the field. But the team is set up in such a way that I have to be the one that sits out and we have some great fielders on the ground even then."
"It's definitely challenging when you are not settled on any side. As a 21-year-old, I was in RCB and when I made that move to another franchise, it was a little uncomfortable, obviously," Padikkal said at the press conference following RCB's win over Mumbai Indians on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium.
"I wasn't very confident about myself and it took me three-four years to really find what I am as a cricketer in the IPL. It's not that easy. You try your hardest, but at times it just doesn't work," he added.
After his move from RCB, Padikkal spent two seasons with Rajasthan, before going to Lucknow Super Giants in 2024, eventually finding his way back to his home team RCB this season.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Though he hasn't produced significant knocks so far this season, Padikkal displayed glimpses of his pedigree with brisk 37 runs off 22 deliveries against Mumbai on Monday during RCB's 12-run win.
Padikkal mentioned that during the pre-season training, he focused specifically on addressing and correcting particular weaknesses in his batting technique.
"Coming into this season, obviously, I had to work really hard. I knew there were things that I needed to improve on. There were lots of aspects of the game that I wasn't up to the mark I felt in the last year. I had a good couple of months before the IPL started and I feel all that hard work is coming into effect now," he said.
Padikkal, who formed a crucial 91-run partnership for the second wicket with Virat Kohli that enabled RCB to post a formidable target of 222 against MI, expressed that sharing the crease with the batting legend is special.
"Obviously, batting with Virat is a pleasure. He's done this over and over again for so many years, so that's the level of consistency that you aim for as a young cricketer playing the IPL," he said.
"He makes it look easy, but it isn't that easy to be honest, to come in every single year and get above 400-500 runs. As youngsters in the team, we are looking to learn that from him," he said.
During RCB's defence of their target, Padikkal was replaced by 'Impact Sub' Suyansh Sharma, and not being on the field made it pretty "boring" for him.
"It is a rule that they feel helps the game. Hopefully, I can eventually start fielding again because it's pretty boring sitting out and watching," he added.
"I feel I can make that difference when I'm on the field. But the team is set up in such a way that I have to be the one that sits out and we have some great fielders on the ground even then."
You may also like
Leaked War Chats: Who is Dan Caldwell? How is he linked to Signalgate - Trump admin's biggest scandal?
“We're Hiring!” But It Was Scam: Dehradun Video Editor Shares How He Got Ghosted; Check Viral Post
What happened to Netflix's The Diamond Heist thieves - from prison sentences to tragic deaths
Pentagon schools students sue defence secretary Pete Hegseth over book bans on race and gender
Tottenham star may have already played his last game for the club as predicament laid bare
