Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer reckons in-form Devdutt Padikkal should open with Virat Kohli as Jacob Bethell is struggling to grab his opportunity in the absence of his compatriot Phil Salt, who is currently out with a finger injury.
Bethell scored 15 runs off 12 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur on Wednesday before he was dismissed by a sharp bumper from Kartik Tyagi. The England International has managed only 85 runs in six matches at an average of 14.17 and a strike rate of 121.42 in the ongoing IPL 2026.
On the other hand, Padikkal scored 39 runs off 27 deliveries against KKR and added 92 runs off 59 balls with Virat Kohli in the run chase of 193. Padikkal has amassed 367 runs in 11 innings of the ongoing season.
Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “They will have to look at Jacob Bethell. They are continuously giving him chances, but that kind of performance has not come from him. I am actually surprised, because he played a brilliant knock in the World Cup semi-final. So I would suggest opening with Devdutt Padikkal. He is in very good form this season, the way he is batting. And you can play Venkatesh Iyer at number three, and still include both Hazlewood and Jacob Duffy.
“I don’t think Phil Salt will be available or fully fit right now. Venkatesh Iyer is a decent player, has been part of an IPL-winning team with KKR, so if you want to tweak the combination, I would probably go with Devdutt at the top and Venkatesh Iyer at number three,” he added.
Jaffer also praised KKR’s youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored an impressive knock of 71 runs off 46 balls to help his team post 192 runs on the board.
Jaffer concluded, “Yes, I think it has been a very good season so far for Raghuvanshi. He has shown sparks. Even last season he played a couple of good knocks, but this season I think he has already scored his third or fourth fifty. He has been shining a lot. As a young player, performing in such a big league against international stars, he is showing real talent. He is displaying the pedigree he has, and that is a very positive sign for KKR, without a doubt.”
RCB will next take on Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala, on Sunday.
