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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Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals during a practice session (ANI photo)

A video shared by Rajasthan Royals Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi was shown hitting a stunning helicopter shot during a net session in Jaipur. This clip quickly went viral on social media.In IPL 2026, 15-year-old prodigy Suryavanshi continues to shine as one of RR’s standout performers. After becoming the youngest debutant and centurion in IPL history in 2025, he has carried forward his ultra-aggressive approach this season. He recently became the fastest player to reach 500 IPL runs (by balls faced), achieving the milestone in just 227 balls, breaking the previous record of 260 balls held by Glenn Maxwell.However, the youngster suffered a rare setback in his most recent match against Lucknow Super Giants on April 22, where he was out for just 8 runs. Notably, he also played his first maiden over in the IPL, which was bowled by Mohsin Khan.Rajasthan Royals shared a video of Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s net session and the franchise added a cheeky caption to the post, saying, “Trust a Bihari to hit the helicopter shot,” which garnered wide attention and reactions from fans.The helicopter shot, famously popularized by ms dhoniHailing from Jharkhand (formerly part of Bihar), he has become one of the most iconic strokes of cricket. The caption was seen as a playful nod towards that heritage, linking Suryavanshi’s roots to Dhoni’s signature shot.

Rajasthan Royals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals (RR) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 36th match of IPL 2026 tonight, 25th April 2026, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This is the Royals’ first game of the season at home, and they will be looking for revenge after losing by 57 runs to SRH earlier this month. RR is currently placed third in the points table with 10 points (5 wins from 7 matches). SRH are at fourth place with 8 points (4 wins from 7 matches). RR is currently placed third in the points table with 10 points (5 wins from 7 matches). SRH are at fourth place with 8 points (4 wins from 7 matches). SRH have the overall advantage in their 22 IPL meetings with 13 wins to RR’s 9.

With four overs to spare for Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore had a problem to solve at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 25.

Jos Buttler was set and started looking dangerous. Washington Sundar came in and immediately knew his timing. The scoring rate was already above 10, and despite Sai Sudarshan’s dismissal earlier, the platform was firmly on course for a total of over 170, perhaps even heading towards 190 if things clicked.

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This was the stage where games usually ended. Instead, RCB pulled it back.

Only 17 runs were scored in the 17th, 18th and 19th overs. There were no boundaries in two of these overs, an important wicket fell and most importantly, the momentum changed completely.

Three overs, complete control

The change started with Rajat Patidar’s decision which was not clear.

He went back to Suyyash Sharma even though the young leg spinner had taken 14 runs in his previous over. At that stage of the innings, with a set batsman coming in and a new batsman looking fluent, most captains would have turned to safer options.

But Patidar read the situation differently.

Sundar was still new at the crease and finding his rhythm. Buttler, although set, had not yet gone into full acceleration mode. The thinking was clear. If ever there was a way to sneak in quietly, this was it.

Suyyash executed that plan very well.

No big shots were attempted, no risks were taken. Sundar played himself, Buttler remained cautious and only four runs were scored in the over. On paper, it seemed harmless. In context, this was the beginning of the pressure.

pressure builds

T20 games are not always based on big moments. Sometimes, they bowl variations in short, quiet overs that force the batsmen to reconsider.

After leading comfortably, the batting team suddenly realized that it needed to accelerate as there were fewer balls left. The margin for error reduced and pressure began to fall on the batsmen.

This is where Bhuvneshwar Kumar left his impact.

He recognized the moment and more importantly the batsman. Buttler’s ramp shot is often a release option in the death overs, as a way of breaking a bowler’s rhythm. Bhuvneshwar set the trap and executed it well, resulting in Buttler’s dismissal.

That wicket changed everything.

The innings lost its grip due to the departure of the set batsman. Sundar now had to play the attacking role, while Jason Holder made his franchise debut. Although Holder has the ability to clear the ropes, it was always difficult to expect him to do so immediately in that situation.

The over reflected that reality.

There were no limits, no release shots. Singles and doubles only, resulting in five runs. At a stage where teams often try to score 15 or more, that kind of over is invaluable.

checkmate before the last over

After building that pressure, Patidar made another major call.

Instead of saving his main fast bowler for the final over, he called on Josh Hazlewood for the 19th over. It was a move that ensured that scoring goals was no longer easy.

If the batting side had got momentum in that over, it could have continued it till the last six balls. By using Hazlewood first, RCB closed that door completely.

Hazlewood performed with control and discipline.

There were no boundaries, no chance for the batsmen to be free. Each ball added to the pressure that had already built in the previous two overs. By the end of the 19th, the innings had been firmly pulled back.

Seventeen runs in three overs.

What once seemed like a total of 170 was now much more manageable.

Boundaries were hit after some time in the last over, due to which Rasikh Salaam Dar and fatigue were clearly visible on the field. Krunal Pandya had to struggle with crampsBut by then the hard work had been done.

In a format where totals can rise quickly, it was a reminder of how quickly control can be regained with the right decisions and execution.

RCB did not rely on even a single moment of talent. Instead, he applied pressure, made smart calls and backed his bowlers to perform well.

And in the end, those three overs ensured that the target remained within reach, setting up the chase.

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New Delhi: A deficit of 15 to 20 runs in the death overs can often trouble teams, and that is exactly what Gujarat Titans experienced on Friday when they were asked to bat first by Royal Challengers Bangalore in their IPL 2026 clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.Despite the difference between a great start and a record opening Shubman Gill And Sai Sudarshan, GT’s 205/3 ultimately felt weak once defending champions RCB started the chase.Much of the credit for this goes to the three crucial overs from Suyyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, who stunned the Titans in the death overs.three magical oversAt the end of 16 overs, Gujarat Titans were in a good position at 170/2 on the back of an excellent 128-run opening partnership between Sudarshan and Gill. With Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar at the crease and firepower like Jason Holder, Shah Rukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan still to come, GT looked set for a total of over 230.But the end never came.Suyyash Sharma bowled the 17th over brilliantly, giving only four runs and not giving a chance to Buttler or Sundar.After this, Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled the 18th over and took the important wicket of Butler giving only five runs. The pressure had already built and GT was now scrambling.Josh Hazlewood then delivered another blow in the 19th over, conceding only eight runs and closing the door on GT’s late lead.In the end, Gujarat Titans played 18 balls without any boundaries at a crucial stage when they were expected to explode.What was once looking like a score of over 230 came back to 205 thanks to a disciplined performance from RCB in the death overs.Even captain Shubman Gill later admitted how decisive those overs were.“I think from 16 to 19 overs, in those three overs we couldn’t hit any boundaries and we didn’t score as many runs as we wanted to. I think those three overs were very important for us. I mean, at the end of the powerplay, I think we were in a good position. It was all about taking wickets in the middle overs, which I think we couldn’t do once the powerplay was over,” Gill said in the post-match presentation.Kohli survived an early lifelineRCB’s target could have been derailed in the first over itself, but Gujarat Titans missed a golden opportunity.Virat KohliOn zero, Washington Sundar gave a direct chance to mid-wicket after mistimed a delivery from Mohammed Siraj.That mistake proved extremely costly.Kohli repaid GT in full by scoring 81 runs in 44 balls with the help of eight fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 184.09. During his strong innings, he also hit two consecutive sixes on Jason Holder.Kohli-Padikkal show confirms thisDevdutt Padikkal and Kohli then put on a match-defining partnership of 115 runs for the second wicket, as RCB firmly took control of the chase.Padikkal’s 55 and Kohli’s 81 ensured that RCB easily chased down 206 in 18.5 overs and moved to second place on the points table with 10 points.

Virat Kohli was named the player of the match after Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Kohli scored 81 runs on 44 balls RCB achieved the target of 206 runs in 18.5 overs.. However, he described Devdutt Padikkal as the real difference-maker and the real hero of the victory.

Padikkal scored a half-century in 20 balls and scored 55 runs in 27 balls, before he was dismissed by Rashid Khan. Kohli said that their 115-run partnership for the second wicket set the tone for the chase. He also remembered Padikkal’s inning of 61 runs in 26 balls earlier. IPL 2026, when they made a partnership of 101 runs RCB wins over Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets.

“We had to assess the conditions early on. We were just one partnership away. We wanted to try and analyse. Padikkal has done that twice this season. It’s quite rare to be honest. His innings was the clear difference. I was trying to stay in the game. That partnership was a game changer,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

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Virat Kohli praised RCB bowlers

Kohli also praised the RCB bowlers for not letting the GT batsmen take the game away. After 16 overs, the Titans were at 170 and looked set to sail towards 230 or more. However, RCB conceded only 17 runs in the next three overs – less than a run-a-ball – before Krunal Pandya scored 18 runs in the final over.

“Even in our bowling innings, we did well in pulling things back. We were looking at 230-235 at one point,” Kohli said.

Kohli also got luck to some extent. In the very first over of RCB’s chase, they got relief on the very first ball. Mohammed Siraj created a chance, but Washington Sundar dropped a simple catch at midwicket, after which Kohli made GT pay.

Kohli also hit 300 sixes in the IPL and is now just 11 runs short of becoming the first batsman to reach 9,000 runs in the history of the tournament. Meanwhile, with their win over GT, RCB moved up to second on the table with 10 points and a net run rate of +1.101, having won five of their seven matches.

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New Delhi: Sai Sudarshan’s century was not enough for Gujarat Titans to return to winning ways as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) comfortably chased 206 to beat Shubman Gill’s side by five wickets in an IPL 2026 match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Virat Kohli And Devdutt Padikkal led the chase. Chasing 206, RCB suffered an early blow when Jacob Bethel was out early. After this, Kohli and Devdutt took charge and added 115 runs for the second wicket to put the home team in a strong position.Kohli scored 81 runs while Devdutt scored 55 runs and their partnership ensured that the asking rate remained under control. RCB completed the chase in 18.5 overs and moved to second place in the points table with 10 points.Kohli got a lease of life when Washington Sundar dropped his catch at zero on the ball of Mohammad Siraj. After that, he settled down and handled Prasidh Krishna and Kagiso Rabada well.He hit two fours off Prasidh, hit a six off Rabada and hit another six off Rashid Khan over midwicket. Kohli completed his half-century in 30 balls.At the other end, Devdutt matched him stroke by stroke. He hit two sixes to Prasidh and also hit a six to Rashid. He completed his half-century 10 balls before Kohli.Rashid finally broke the stand with the ball by bowling Devdutt. Kohli, who looked in control throughout, was later dismissed by Jason Holder after pulling the ball onto his stumps.RCB then lost ground for a while as captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma were also out, leaving their score at 173 for five.But Krunal Pandya scored 23 runs in 12 balls and Tim David added 10 runs to give RCB the victory. This was his fourth win over Chinnaswamy in five matches this season.Earlier, with the help of Sai Sudarshan’s 100 runs, Gujarat Titans scored 205 runs for three wickets when invited to bat.Opening with captain Shubman Gill, Sudarshan made a partnership of 128 runs for the first wicket. Gill scored 32 runs in 24 balls, but Sudarshan was the main scorer and dominated the stand.The left-handed batsman scored 46 runs in the powerplay and completed his half-century in 33 balls by hitting a six off Romario Shepherd. His next half-century came in just 24 balls as he attacked the spin of Krunal and Suyyash Sharma.During the innings, Sudarshan also became the fastest batsman to score 2,000 runs in the IPL. He completed his century by taking a single off Suyyash.He was dismissed by Suyyash on his own ball on the score of 91 but he could not last long after the century. He was out on exactly 100 runs by giving a return catch to Josh Hazlewood.After his dismissal, RCB handled things well. From 174 runs for two wickets in the 17th over, Gujarat could score only 31 runs in the last four overs. Holder’s unbeaten 23 off 10 balls helped them cross 200, but it was not enough as RCB completed the chase with ease.

Opening the innings for Gujarat Titans against RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Sai Sudarshan returned to form with a century in 57 balls, his third IPL century. After RCB chose to field, Sudarshan opened with Shubman Gill and put together a 128-run partnership for the first wicket, setting the stage for a big score.

Sau also placed him in a notable list. Sudarshan became the 14th batsman to score IPL A century against RCB and only the second Gujarat Titans player to do so after Gill’s effort in the 2023 season.

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He didn’t start off in a reassuring manner. His first boundary came off a thick outside edge that went past the short third boundary, but he was quickly disposed of. A deliberate steer was run in the same area, before a crisp punch through cover. Even when he came out of his crease early in the innings, there was no urgency, only control, as he pushed the ball straight towards the bowler.

RCB bowlers struggled to maintain their grip and Sudarshan made them suffer for it. Rasikh Salaam was pulled and cut consistently for boundaries as the left-handed batsman started to move through the gears. Immediately after this the first six of the innings was hit. Against Josh Hazlewood, Sudarshan made good use of the pace, scooping him brilliantly for four before hitting a six over cover-point and another four behind point in the same over.

He scored 41 runs from 27 balls, which ensured that Gujarat Titans did not lose momentum in the powerplay, ending at 57 without loss. His half-century came off 33 balls, completed with a controlled scoop off Romario Shepherd. Keeping the innings on track, he continued to hit boundaries without increasing the pace.

In the middle overs, Sudarshan maintained the pace while expanding his range. He uppercut Krunal Pandya over deep third for six and followed it up with a slog sweep, reaching 2000 IPL runs in the process. He achieved the feat in 47 innings, leaving Chris Gayle behind as the fastest in the tournament.

There was no shortage. Sudarshan started the 13th over with a six over wide long-off off Suyyash Sharma and then continued to control his position with straight hits. He remained measured throughout the innings, choosing his scoring areas and keeping the board moving, before Josh Hazlewood used pace and bounce to end his brilliant innings.

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Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes that T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav is becoming too predictable in his shot selection, which is causing the bowlers to get the better of him. Domestic cricket icon Jaffer feels that Surya lacks a backup plan against opposition teams to counter his strength, which is causing him to lose his wickets.

This comes after Surya failed to help his Indian Premier League franchise, Mumbai Indians chase a mammoth target set by eternal rivals Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, April 23. He scored 36 runs from 30 balls as his team was reduced to 11/3 in the first three overs while chasing the target of 208 runs. Mumbai lost this match by 103 runs.

He has had a forgettable tournament so far, scoring only 157 runs at a strike rate of 142.73 in seven innings, with only one fifty-plus score against Delhi Capitals when he was required to captain the side in the absence of Hardik Pandya.

Jaffer believes Surya’s struggles are due to teams now bowling tighter lengths, which is not giving him enough space behind the wicket to play his trademark shots. He believes that Surya should focus on playing more in front of the wicket, down the ground.

Jafar said on his X account, “Sky (Sun) is getting stuck like this again and again.” “Teams set fields to restrict his leg-side and behind-the-wicket shots. He needs a Plan B. He might go straight or hit over cover. Don’t be predictable. Too good a player to fall into the same trap.”

Mumbai born batsman was dismissed 14th over by Akeal Hossein Distribution. Attempting a sweep, the right-handed batsman bowled the ball straight to deep backward square leg, where Sarfaraz Khan took a simple catch.

After the team’s early collapse, Surya along with Tilak Verma tried to revive MI’s innings, the duo sharing a partnership of 73 runs. Despite this effort, CSK defeated Mumbai at home. securing a comfortable victory.

Mumbai Indians now have a seven-day break before their next match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday, April 29.

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tune in

Bengaluru: Friday’s IPL clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium brings together two polar opposite captains. Rajat Patidar, who had only limited leadership experience on the domestic circuit before being handed the RCB captain’s job last season, has become the defending champions’ most explosive batsman and a steady hand in the high-pressure campaign.Shubman Gill, in contrast, comes with a hefty leadership resume that includes India’s Test and ODI captaincy. But he has had a much less fluent season for Gujarat Titans, especially in the powerplay, even though his numbers still place him among the league’s leading run-scorers. As a team, Gujarat have been stumbling, having recently suffered a crushing 99-run defeat against Mumbai Indians.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Patidar’s rise has been one of the sharpest storylines of this season. Before being handed the RCB captaincy, his leadership experience was largely limited to Madhya Pradesh’s campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.He has backed up his relative inexperience with fearless batting by dominating the middle overs over the past few seasons. Currently the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 230 runs in six matches (strike rate 212.96), Patidar has been RCB’s power-hitting spark this season.Gill, on the other hand, has had a more uneventful season. The 26-year-old has had to carry a heavy scoring load given the poor results around him this season. With a strike rate of 151.42, Gill is third in the run-scorers’ charts with 265 runs in five matches.

With three half-centuries to his name, Gill has faced a tough phase as GT captain, with the former champion going through inconsistent performances. This contradiction between the captains is at the heart of a competition in which both teams take the field despite defeats.RCB have looked sharp in the powerplay and death overs, with Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Patidar providing a strong top-end up the order and Tim David producing brilliant finishes. Meanwhile, GT had won three consecutive matches before their last match, but the batting order was exposed in the crushing defeat to Mumbai, which revealed their dependence on the top order.While RCB’s batting has been their biggest weapon, their bowling still looks a bit weak when forced to defend on home soil and the onus will once again be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Krunal Pandya. They will also be hoping that their Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood returns after a day off against the Capitals.Meanwhile, GT’s pace attack remains a major strength, with Prasidh Krishna being their leading wicket-taker and the support unit around him bothering them, but their batting has been heavily dependent on Gill, Jos Buttler and Sai Sudarshan. This makes the mid-order a potential pressure point. On his home ground, Prasidh could check the RCB batsmen.History offers little to distinguish them. The head-to-head encounter is level at 3-3, while GT won the match here in 2025 by eight wickets.With RCB playing their last home league match in Bengaluru, the hosts won’t just want points: they will want to sign Utkarsh.