Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik said it could become difficult to keep Devdutt Padikkal out of the India team if he continues batting in the same way in the IPL, after his recent performances for the franchise.Padikkal played a key role in RCB’s win over Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, scoring 50 off 29 balls. Speaking after the match, Karthik pointed to Padikkal’s approach at the start of the innings.“The first thing that stands out is his determination. On a pitch like this, when runs don’t come easily at the start, many batters try to force a big shot and end up giving their wicket away. Devdutt showed great courage to stay patient when the going was tough,” Karthik told Star Sports, as cited by news agency PTI.“Once he got that first boundary, you could see him switch gears. He’s playing proper cricketing shots and hitting the ball with distance. If he continues batting like this, it will be difficult to keep him out of the Indian team for long. He has scored heavily in domestic cricket and we know he’s a quality player.”“What’s also impressive is the way he’s stepping up as a leader in the Karnataka dressing room. Even at 25, he contributes with his ideas and leadership, and that’s great to see,” Karthik added.Padikkal’s innings included five fours and two sixes as RCB posted 250 for 3. Tim David also contributed with 70 off 25 balls, hitting eight sixes and three fours, while captain Rajat Patidar made 48 off 19 balls. RCB went on to win by 43 runs, handing CSK their third straight loss.Karthik also spoke about David’s innings. “He has a very smooth swing, long levers and all the ingredients required to hit big shots.“For him, it’s about ensuring those elements remain consistent in practice. Because he bats in the middle order, he often gets fewer balls in a match compared to top-order batters. So, in the nets, it’s important that he faces enough deliveries and stays in a good rhythm.“The rest of his game is already very strong. Over the last 12-18 months, he has been one of the most consistent batters in the world in this format.”Former India captain Anil Kumble raised concerns about CSK’s start to the season.“It’s a massive concern for Chennai. If your two most experienced batters, Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad, haven’t fired in the first three matches, it becomes a serious challenge. The rest of the batting line-up, apart from Samson and MS Dhoni, is quite young.“You need at least one of your experienced batters to step up and deliver a big innings. Unfortunately, in the first three games, things haven’t gone Chennai’s way. It’s still early in the season, but they will need to tighten things up quickly,” Kumble said.
