Devdutt Padikkal living the RCB dream

Shivajinagar. Indiranagar. Jayanagar. Vijayanagar. Be it any place in a cricket frenzy city like Bengaluru, we always come across a cluster of children totally absorbed in the game of cricket, imitating Glenn Maxwell's pointing to the RCB crest, Virat Kohli's cover drive, AB de Villiers' iconic scoop shot, or Mohammed Siraj's "sush" celebration.

If you ask any of them what their dream is, they will explicitly tell you, "I aspire to wear the Red and Gold jersey.” Some of the most celebrated cricketers, such as Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers, have been woven into the red and gold fabric of this franchise, which is deeply entrenched in the rich veins of history.

There is another such youngster, who has all the makings of joining the above-mentioned elite list of cricketers, living the dream that every child in Bengaluru dreams of. Devdutt Padikkal has shown the full range of his potential with the willow for the Royal Challengers. Blessed with great talent, the southpaw has already stamped his authority in IPL, amassing 822 runs in just 26 matches, including 6 half-centuries. 

RCB's latest batting sensation, Devdutt, shared his experience at the RCB camp thus far in interaction with Glenn Maxwell following a victory over Punjab Kings on Sunday. He claimed to be living his dream, rubbing shoulders with T20 behemoths like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Glenn Maxwell.

"I am living my dream. To be batting with such great players like AB (de Villiers), you and everyone around. It’s a great privilege to be playing for RCB, and I am thoroughly enjoying it," he stated. 

There always seems to be a city that embodies everything and makes an individual feel one of its own. In his case, Bengaluru has played a pivotal role in moulding his dreams to reality. 

"This city has been very kind to me. Everything is available here. I am lucky to have found the right schools and academies to spur my growth. The first thing I did after coming here is to go to a cricket academy, even before looking for a school. This city has played a big role in my career," he was then quoted as saying to Times of India.