Devdutt Padikkal RCB IPL 2025 Journey: Test Debut, Health Battles & Kohli's Mentorship

Devdutt Padikkal Opens Up on His Emotional Journey, Test Dreams & RCB Comeback in IPL 2025

A boyhood RCB fan living his dream on the grandest stage

In the glitzy world of the IPL, where power-hitters dominate headlines and sixes steal the show, stories like Devdutt Padikkal’s bring a rare and refreshing human touch to cricket. As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up to face Delhi Capitals in a much-anticipated home fixture at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 10, 2025, Padikkal sat down with RCB Bold Diaries, reflecting on his rollercoaster cricket journey from battling health challenges to earning his India Test cap, and now, making a heartfelt return to his beloved franchise.

Childhood inspirations and Karnataka cricket's rich legacy

For Padikkal, cricket started with admiration. Growing up, his idols weren’t just about power and flair; they were about grace, skill, and impact. He fondly recalled watching Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Adam Gilchrist light up the game. But being a product of Karnataka cricket, his heart naturally gravitated towards homegrown legends.

From Rahul Dravid’s calmness to Anil Kumble’s grit, Padikkal grew up soaking in lessons from icons who had shaped not just Indian cricket but also Karnataka's towering cricket culture. Every time he steps on the field in Karnataka colours, Padikkal knows he’s carrying forward a rich heritage that expects not just performances, but a certain dignity and class.

Managing emotional highs and lows in modern cricket

While Padikkal comes across as reserved and calm on the field, he confessed that like every cricketer in India, he too faces inner battles. "Externally, I’m not too emotional, but internally there’s a lot going on," he shared candidly.

With the pressures of cricket in India stretching beyond just runs and wickets from social media noise to constant scrutiny Padikkal emphasized the importance of experience in learning to manage these emotional swings. For him, maturity has come not just from playing cricket but from navigating life’s challenges off the field.

Returning to RCB A homecoming filled with passion

RCB isn’t just another franchise for Padikkal. It's home. It's where the dream began.

"I've been an RCB fan since I started watching IPL," he said, recalling memories of cheering from the stands with inflated balloons, celebrating every boundary and wicket with fellow fans. Leaving RCB after his initial stint wasn't easy, but now that he’s back wearing the red and gold, he admits it feels surreal.

"It's great to be back," he smiled. And you could feel the emotion in those words.

Overcoming health battles: Ulcerative Colitis and the fight within

Perhaps the most powerful part of Padikkal’s journey is his battle with Ulcerative Colitis a condition he was diagnosed with during IPL 2022. The disease caused significant weight loss, fatigue, and forced him to take a difficult break from cricket for a few months.

Losing 10-11 kgs in a short span, missing cricket, and facing an uncertain future could have broken many. But Padikkal showed rare resilience. "It’s a condition I’ll probably have to deal with throughout my life," he admitted. Yet here he is stronger, wiser, and back doing what he loves.

Living the ultimate dream: Making his Test debut for India

For every cricketer, there’s one dream that stands above the rest playing Test cricket for India. And for Padikkal, that dream came true recently.

He described the emotions of receiving his Test cap in vivid detail. "After getting my cap, I went back to my room and cried for the rest of the evening," he revealed. Not out of sadness, but from the overwhelming sense of fulfillment that a childhood dream was now reality.

Moments like these, as Padikkal rightly said, come once in a lifetime.

Preparing for IPL 2025: Evolution is key in modern cricket

Heading into IPL 2025, Padikkal worked tirelessly on expanding his batting range. From developing new shots to fine-tuning his T20 skills, he understands the need to constantly evolve in an era where bowlers are smarter and analytics sharper.

"You have to keep improving every single season," he remarked, reflecting a growth mindset that separates good players from great ones.

Virat Kohli The mentor and the inspiration

Working closely with Virat Kohli at RCB has been a blessing for Padikkal. During his earlier stint, Kohli was assigned as Padikkal’s mentor, a phase he treasures deeply.

"Having one of the greats of the game be your mentor was unreal," he said. Observing Kohli’s routines, mindset, and discipline left a lasting impact on Padikkal, shaping his approach towards training and competition.

Red ball vs white ball cricket: A tricky transition

Switching between Test cricket and T20 cricket is no easy task, especially with the vastly different skillsets required for each format. Padikkal explained how fundamentals learned in red-ball cricket often contrast with the demands of T20.

"You grow up learning the basics for red-ball cricket, but T20 requires almost the opposite approach," he pointed out. Adapting between formats, he believes, is a learning process one that requires time, experience, and patience.

The dream that never fades Winning an IPL trophy for RCB

Ask any RCB fan about their greatest wish, and the answer is unanimous winning that elusive IPL trophy. For Padikkal, this dream is deeply personal.

"Winning an IPL trophy for RCB is my dream," he said passionately. Having grown up cheering for the team and now being a vital part of it, Padikkal’s ultimate goal is clear to be part of the RCB side that finally lifts the IPL trophy and ends the long wait for its fans.