RCB's Malolan Rangarajan Praises Devdutt Padikkal Ahead of Match Against DC

RCB's Anticipation for Upcoming Clash with Delhi Capitals

New Delhi [India] - As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gears up for their match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Delhi, spin bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan expressed his satisfaction with Devdutt Padikkal's recent performances. He hopes Padikkal will maintain his form as the tournament progresses.

Currently sitting third on the points table with six victories and three defeats, RCB is riding high after securing their first home win. They are eager to seek revenge against DC, who are positioned second with six wins and two losses, totaling 12 points. After a shaky start to the season, Padikkal has emerged as a reliable number three batsman, achieving two consecutive fifties against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).

In the eight matches played, Padikkal has amassed 230 runs for RCB, averaging 32.85 with a strike rate exceeding 156, including two half-centuries. Acquired for Rs two crores during last year's mega auction, he has adapted well to a counter-attacking batting style, a shift from his previous opener role in 2020 and 2021, where he scored 473 and 411 runs, respectively, featuring a century and six fifties.

During the pre-match press conference, Malolan noted that RCB was specifically looking for a left-handed batsman during the auction, and Padikkal's prior experience with the team, particularly alongside Virat Kohli, was a significant advantage.

“Devdutt had two outstanding years with RCB, scoring nearly 500 runs. Although he faced a challenging period in the last three years, we were clear about wanting a left-hander during the auction, and he was available for us on day two,” Malolan stated.

He further emphasized the benefit of having previously worked with Padikkal, which provided clarity regarding his role upon rejoining RCB. “He was eager and receptive to the technical and tactical insights from both Dinesh Karthik and Andy Flower. He has performed exceptionally well, even in challenging situations,” he added.

Malolan also praised Rajat Patidar's captaincy, describing it as “tremendous.” He highlighted Patidar's calm demeanor and clear decision-making under pressure, showcasing his ability to manage bowlers effectively. “There’s still a second half of the IPL to play, and we hope he continues this way,” he concluded.

Squads:

Delhi Capitals Squad: Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mukesh Kumar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sameer Rizvi, Madhav Tiwari, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurana Vijay, Darshan Nalkande, Faf du Plessis, T Natarajan, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Manvanth Kumar L, Mohit Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Lungi Ngidi, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Manoj Bhandage, Rasikh Dar Salam, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Bethell, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.