Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Devdutt Padikkal expressed confidence in his team’s bowling strength after they scored a commanding 222/4 against Punjab Kings in an IPL 2026 match in Dharamshala. Padikkal, who played a quick 45 off 25 balls, emphasized the importance of executing bowling plans effectively on a slightly slow pitch.
Padikkal highlighted the competitive nature of the total but stressed the need for good bowling to restrict the opposition. Despite an early setback, RCB recovered well with Padikkal and Virat Kohli’s partnership setting the innings back on track with aggressive scoring.
Padikkal noted the challenging nature of the Dharamshala pitch for strokeplay early on and expected bowlers to capitalize on the conditions in the second innings. He praised RCB’s experienced bowling unit for their ability to adapt to the pitch without extensive guidance.
Reflecting on his partnership with Kohli, Padikkal emphasized his role in building solid stands during the Power-play to maintain momentum for the team. With contributions from Venkatesh Iyer and Tim David, RCB set Punjab Kings a target of 223 runs.
