Last season, Devdutt Padikkal played a key role at number 3 for RCB. In 10 matches he scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.60. He registered two half-centuries during the campaign before being ruled out before the end due to injury. With the arrival of Venkatesh, there will be competition for the number 3 spot in the RCB batting order in IPL 2026. However, Padikkal is not too perturbed and he hopes that both can play a key role for the defending champions in the coming season.
“Of course, when you play in the IPL you always have competition. Venky is a great player and I have played many matches with and against him. I am looking forward to having him in the squad. Hopefully we can both contribute to the team’s success,” he said on InsideSport’s YouTube channel.
Padikkal has been in remarkable form in domestic cricket this season. He is the leading run-getter in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 721 runs in eight innings at an average of 103 and a strike rate of 100.27. The Karnataka batter has four centuries and two fifties to its credit so far.
In the first quarter-final against Mumbai on Monday, January 12, Padikkal scored an unbeaten 81 off 95 balls at the BCCI Center of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Karnataka won the match by 55 runs through the VJD method to advance to the semi-finals.
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