IPL 2026 | 'Batting with Virat Kohli...': Devdutt Padikkal shares his experience of playing alongside RCB's stalwart

Devdutt Padikkal (Pic: File Pic)

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set to lock horns with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2026 match on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

Ahead of the match, RCB's batsman Devdutt Padikkal spoke about his debut with the Bengaluru-based franchise. He also shared his experience of batting alongside stalwart Virat Kohli.

"When I made my IPL debut with RCB in the 2020 season, I felt ready. I had a solid run of scores in domestic cricket behind me. So, I knew that when my chance came, I would be fully switched on and give 100 per cent," he said on JioStar.

"Batting with Virat Kohli, one of the greatest in the game, was a huge help. At that age, watching him build an innings gave me so much clarity and understanding of how to construct a knock. That made a big difference in my growth," added Padikkal.

Currently, RCB and SRH have qualified for the playoffs of the tournament. The Royal Challengers are enjoying the top spot on the points table with nine wins and four defeats. They have a net run rate (NRR) of +1.065 and 18 points. On the other hand, the Sunrisers have registered eight victories and five losses in 13 matches. They have a net run rate (NRR) of +0.350 and 16 points.

IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Full Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Swapnil Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Phil Salt (WK), Rajat Patidar (C), Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Tim David, Devdutt Padikkal, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Salam, Jordan Cox, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Mangesh Yadav, Suyash Sharma, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Travis Head, Liam Livingstone, Ishan Kishan (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Zeeshan Ansari, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards, Harsh Dubey, Salil Arora (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Smaran Ravichandran, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Aniket Verma, Shivang Kumar, Krains Bhaveshbhai Fuletra, Omkar Tarmale.