Devdutt Padikkal heaped praise on Virat Kohli after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru veteran's unbeaten 105 off 60 deliveries steered RCB to a commanding six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 on 14 May, saying sharing a dressing room with Kohli was like 'watching greatness from close quarters.' The victory, sealed with five balls to spare at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, lifted RCB back to the top of the points table.

Kohli's Masterclass in Raipur

Chasing 193, Kohli anchored the innings from start to finish, striking 11 fours and three sixes in a display of trademark control and timing. The century was his ninth IPL hundred — a record that underlines his enduring dominance in the format. Padikkal contributed a fluent 39, sharing a pivotal 92-run second-wicket partnership with Kohli that effectively decided the contest.

What Padikkal Said About Batting with Kohli

Speaking in a video shared by the IPL on Thursday, Padikkal described the experience of batting alongside the former India captain as instinctively reassuring. 'When you get to watch greatness in front of you, I think it's something that you are really grateful for. And to have him in our team, in our dressing room, is really, really special,' he said.

Padikkal noted that Kohli's reading of match situations took pressure off his partners. 'I think it just makes it so easy to bat with him. He understands the tempo of the game so well. He knows when you have to put pressure on the opposition and when we have to take a step back and make sure that we build that partnership,' he added.

One shot in particular — a straight drive off Anukul Roy — drew special admiration from Padikkal. 'Especially the straight shot that he hit off Anukul was something that only he can do,' he said.

Context: Bouncing Back from a Difficult Patch

The win over KKR came after RCB had dropped a couple of close matches earlier in the campaign. Padikkal acknowledged the side had needed to regroup. 'We had a couple of tough games in between when we couldn't quite get over the line. So we had to really regroup and make sure that we are doing the right things, the small things well,' he said. He emphasised the importance of building a winning habit heading into the business end of the league stage.

Notably, the cluster of wicket-falls that had troubled RCB in recent games was a key tactical concern. Padikkal pointed out that preserving wickets against a target of 193 was critical to finishing comfortably — something the side executed well on the night.

Eyes on Dharamshala and Punjab Kings

RCB's next assignment is against Punjab Kings at Dharamshala — a venue that carries personal significance for Padikkal, who received his Test cap there. 'I've always enjoyed going to Dharamshala, obviously. I got my Test cap there. So it's a really special place for me. So I'm really looking forward to it, and hopefully, we have another win coming our way,' the 25-year-old said. With the playoff race tightening, RCB will be eager to consolidate their position at the top.