Padikkal opens up on Yuvi's impact (Source: @SunilJoshi_Spin/x.com, @often_20/x.com)
Indian cricket will seldom see a legend as flamboyant as Yuvraj Singh. While battles on the 22-yard strip are part of the game, Yuvraj fought a far greater one off it, defeating cancer and returning to cricket with unmatched courage and heart.
The entire world never fails to be amazed by Yuvi’s excellence, and RCB batter Devdutt Padikkal is also one of them. In a recent interview, Padikkal spoke about Yuvraj’s fearless approach and revealed how the legend’s left-handed flair shaped his own batting style.
Devdutt Padikkal marvels at Yuvraj Singh’s fearless mindset
A stylish young batter from Punjab burst into Indian cricket and instantly gave fans a new hero, Yuvraj Singh. From record-breaking sixes to many more exceptional knocks, the left-handed batter never delivered a dull moment. Whenever he used to come to bat, bowlers used to be extra cautious as the world was aware of Yuvi’s power-hitting.
Within countless on-field heroics, the former Indian batter redefined the definition of courage by beating cancer and returning to the cricket field. Among all the fans across the globe, Devdutt Padikkal is one of them. Speaking to the RCB podcast, Padikkal opened up on how that fearless comeback left a lasting impact on him.
“It's just his fearlessness. He's fought through a lot of things in life, and obviously, all that he did outside the cricket field is something amazing. But for me personally, when I watched him bat, just as a left-hander, I just loved watching him bat,” he said.
Yuvi leaves a mark on Padikkal’s batting style
When Yuvraj Singh swings his bat in the air, it is a treat to watch, and the budding cricketers take notes from his excellence. The story is no different for Devdutt. Padikkal, who is also a left-hander, learned a lot from Yuvraj Singh’s batting. Speaking on this, he admitted he has learned plenty from Yuvi’s brilliance.
“You know, I feel a lot of, uh, left-handers, if you ask them who was the most good-looking left-hander to watch, it was probably Yuvraj Singh. The elegance with which he batted, and I just love watching him bat. It helped me mold my game in terms of what I wanted to be as a left-hander,” he added.
After stints with Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, Devdutt Padikkal makes a powerful return to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, picking up right where he left off three years ago. Though his IPL journey was cut short due to injury, he scored 247 runs in 10 matches with two half-centuries and batted with a strike rate of 150.60.
