Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 form with Royal Challengers Bangalore has reignited calls for his return to Team India. But former India opener Virender Sehwag believes the bigger hurdle is not the performances but the lack of space in an already stacked batting lineup.

The form of this left-handed batsman has again brought him into the limelight.But the big question remains regarding his place in India’s jam-packed batting order. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Sehwag pointed to the depth in Indian cricket which makes it difficult for even in-form players to make it.

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“Dinesh Karthik is saying that Padikkal should play for India, but every season players come forward who feel that they should play for India. But where is the place in the Indian team?” Sehwag said.

“There is no room for Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Devdutt Padikkal and many other players. There is no room for Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal. There are five players who are scoring runs, but who will you leave for them? Where is the room?”

This is the reality right now. You can score runs, you can win games, and you’ll still get doors closed because there are so many players doing the same thing.

Padikkal has been so good IPL 2026?

Padikkal has not just been good this season. He has been different.

Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he has moved away from the “take your time” version of himself. Now, he comes and starts swinging from the very first over.

The best example of this came against Gujarat Titans. Chasing 206, he scored 55 off 27 balls, completing his half-century in 20 balls and hitting six sixes. He along with Virat Kohli added 115 runs for the second wicket and almost halved the target.

The figures show how big the change has been. This season, his strike rate in the first ten balls is 170.18. Last year it was 126.51. A year ago, only 74.42.

Overall, the jump is even crazier. After averaging 131.98 in 99 T20 innings, he is now averaging 165.36 in his last 22 innings. In IPL 2026 alone, this number has crossed 180.

He has scored more than 200 runs in the first six matches and is getting close to what he did last season. But its impact is more than runs. The powerplay overs are never quiet when he is around. Bowlers are under pressure from the first ball.

How does the Indian team’s fight look for Padikkal?

And yet, this is where things get tricky.

In T20Is alone, you already have Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Then there are Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, who are already ahead of the queue.

Add in emerging names like Tilak Verma, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and even Vaibhav Suryavanshi and it becomes a crowd.

Sehwag said, “If any senior player is given a break, then some of these players can be given a chance. But in that team, where the competition is so tough, I would say that I do not need a break. Because if I take a break and someone else comes in my place and scores runs, then I will be dropped.”

ODI team is not easy. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Gill have a strong hold on the top order, while players like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jaiswal are also waiting in the wings.

So where does Padikkal fit in?

For now, he is doing his work. Scoring fast, winning games, and changing perceptions. The rest may depend on time.

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