Royal Challengers Bengaluru scripted a clinical demolition of Delhi Capitals, powered by an unforgettable new-ball burst from Josh Hazelwood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Devdutt Padikkal, RCB’s in-form batsman, dissected their game-changing contribution that turned the match on its head right from the outset.
The Australian quick Hazelwood returned staggering figures of 4/12, perfectly complemented by Bhuvneshwar’s 3/5. DC crumbled to 75 all out, and RCB romped home with overs to spare. The powerplay haul of three wickets apiece meant the Capitals were always playing catch-up, unable to build any momentum.
Reflecting on the spell, Padikkal noted, ‘It was brilliant to witness that pressure in the first six overs. They’re world-class with the new ball, and dual-end excellence crushes batting teams – we saw it unfold perfectly.’
Standing in slips, he felt the edge on every delivery: ‘In T20, you don’t expect catches every ball, but their bowling made it so. Every one was a chance.’ On his own slip catching evolution, Padikkal attributed it to field time, practice, quick reflexes, and maintaining soft hands.
Contributing 34 not out in the chase, Padikkal underlined wrapping up big targets swiftly, boosted by Bethell’s aggressive opener. Kohli’s 9,000 IPL runs milestone further highlighted RCB’s depth. This duo’s synergy proves why powerplay dominance often decides T20 fortunes.
