'We could go hard at every ball': Padikkal reveals RCB’s new batting mantra
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are leading the Indian Premier League 2026 standings with a new batting strategy: preserve wickets early, then unleash aggression. Devdutt Padikkal revealed this tactical shift, emphasising lessons learned from past collapses. This approach, coupled with individual form and Tim David's explosive hitting, has powered RCB's dominant start.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have begun their IPL 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, and batter Devdutt Padikkal has revealed the tactical shift behind their early success. With two wins in two matches, RCB sit atop the standings, showcasing a refined batting approach that blends caution with calculated aggression. Speaking after their convincing 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru, Padikkal explained that the team has consciously addressed its past batting frailties.
The new strategy revolves around preserving wickets in the first half of the innings before unleashing an all-out assault in the latter stages. ‘Keep wickets, then attack’ Padikkal highlighted that the change in approach stems from lessons learned last season. “Even last season we had a couple of games early on where we struggled and ended up losing maybe three or four wickets and then it put us on the back foot,” he said.
“We had a conversation midway through last year that we needed to make sure that when the wicket is behaving in such a way, you have to ensure you have wickets in hand. Once the ball gets older, it becomes much easier to bat on,” he added. The left-hander stressed that avoiding early collapses has been key.
“We had to make sure we are not three or four down by the 10-over mark. Once we were able to do that, we could go hard at every ball. The way the entire unit has been batting since then has been incredible,” he noted.