Former South African gun fast bowler Dale Steyn has given credit to Devdutt Padikkal for improving his game against short-pitch deliveries in the ongoing IPL 2026. Steyn recalled that the left-hander used to struggle against the bumpers when the latter was part of the franchise.
The former Proteas pacer said he wanted to impress the team’s think tank in the nets and thus cranked up his pace against Padikkal.
Meanwhile, Padikkal has been in prime form in the ongoing IPL 2026 as he scored another fine knock of 55 runs off just 27 balls against Gujarat Titans. The left-hander scored two fours and half-a-dozen sixes as RCB registered a five-wicket win. The southpaw has scored 208 runs in six innings of the ongoing season at an average of 34.67 and a blistering strike rate of 184.07.
Dale Steyn said on ESPN Cricinfo, “When I played for RCB, in my last season I was trying to get into the team. I felt that the only way I was going to get into the team was by showing real pace in the nets. Poor Dev was taking it for me. I was bouncing him. I was almost trying to hurt him to show [Mike] Hesson that I can get into that team.
“I walked away that season thinking he’s a guy that shows a lot of skill, but he’s going to struggle with the short ball. Now, I look at him and go, ‘now he’s got it’. He’s figured it out. Fear has gone out of the window,” Steyn added.
On the other hand, former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop also praised Devdutt Padikkal for showing an upward swing in his improvement graph.
He said, “We have seen this kid in years gone by and he seems to have this relationship with Virat. I think when he scored his hundred in the IPL, Virat was at the crease with him and Virat lorded all over him, rightly so. I thought touch player, good. But, what he’s done this season – the aggression, the ability to get good balls away – I find it mindblowing. It’s like, ‘no one come and tell me that in the future you can’t improve as a cricketer at some stage’.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Monday.
