![\"'We](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130053537,imgsize-205994,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/rcb.jpg\" "\\"Royal")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nNEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have begun their IPL<\/a> 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, and batter Devdutt Padikkal has revealed the tactical shift behind their early success. With two wins in two matches, RCB sit atop the standings, showcasing a refined batting approach that blends caution with calculated aggression.Speaking after their convincing 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings<\/a> in Bengaluru, Padikkal explained that the team has consciously addressed its past batting frailties. The new strategy revolves around preserving wickets in the first half of the innings before unleashing an all-out assault in the latter stages.\u2018Keep wickets, then attack\u2019<\/span>Padikkal highlighted that the change in approach stems from lessons learned last season. \u201cEven last season we had a couple of games early on where we struggled and ended up losing maybe three or four wickets and then it put us on the back foot,\u201d he said.\u201cWe had a conversation midway through last year that we needed to make sure that when the wicket is behaving in such a way, you have to ensure you have wickets in hand. Once the ball gets older, it becomes much easier to bat on,\u201d he added.The left-hander stressed that avoiding early collapses has been key. \u201cWe had to make sure we are not three or four down by the 10-over mark. Once we were able to do that, we could go hard at every ball. The way the entire unit has been batting since then has been incredible,\u201d he noted.This approach has already paid dividends, with RCB posting big totals and maintaining pressure on opposition bowlers through well-timed acceleration.Padikkal\u2019s evolution and confidence boost<\/span>Padikkal, who has been in fine form with scores of 61 and 50 in the first two games, credited his improvement in white-ball formats to a conscious shift in mindset and technique.\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of hard work and self-belief. It wasn\u2019t easy to make that change because I had to alter the foundation of the kind of cricket I wanted to play growing up,\u201d he admitted.\u201cThe change was something I had to make consciously, and RCB\u2019s support staff have been brilliant in guiding me in the right way,\u201d he added, underlining the role of the team environment in his transformation.Power-hitting balance and Tim David factor<\/span>While T20 batting has seen an increasing emphasis on power-hitting, Padikkal believes the evolution is part of a natural progression. \u201cBatting has gone to another level. Everyone is working hard to hit big sixes and fours. It\u2019s now on the bowlers to raise their game as well,\u201d he said, adding that conditions could eventually balance the contest.Padikkal also reserved special praise for teammate Tim David, whose explosive 70 off 25 balls dismantled Chennai\u2019s attack. \u201cWe see him do this every day in practice. He\u2019s very clear about which bowler to target and when. That clarity makes a huge difference,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n