Royal Challengers Bangalore cruise ever so confidently into IPL 2026 with an age-old problem on their hands- who will bat at number three. On paper, it would be a choice between Devdutt Padikkal and Venkatesh Iyer. In more practical terms, it is a duel between present form versus past reputation. Padikkal’s Domestic Feast Devdutt Padikkal is going through one of the best domestic seasons of his career. His numbers in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have been phenomenal. He has, in all, scored 721 runs at an unbelievable average of 103 in eight innings, with four hundreds and two fifties to boot. His scores of 124, 147, 113, 108, and 91 represent a level of consistency scarcely found in limited-overs cricket. What makes the feat special is not just the amount of runs accumulated but the method of accumulation. Padikkal has been patient early on in his innings, shown good shot selection, and once set, has been able to increase the scoring rate. His strike rate of over 100 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy only goes to show that he hasn't scored at the cost of momentum. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Ascendance Form has also been maintained in the shortest format. During the 2025 to 2026 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he acquired 309 runs in six innings with an average of 61.80 and scored with a strike rate of 167.02. These numbers fit the IPL template to perfection. Therefore, this poses a problem for RCB. The number three theoretically must account for any potential movement with the possibility of the first wicket falling, whilst also maintaining a significantly high scoring rate. The evidence of Padikkal in recent times suggests he is well equipped for both roles. Also Read | Major Setback: Faf du Plessis Ruled Out of SA20 After Thumb Injury Venkatesh Iyer Struggles On With a dismal return at the domestic level, Venkatesh Iyer's position looks alarmingly precarious. He mustered only 176 runs in eight innings at 25.14 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His return from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is not much better at 211 runs from ten innings at 26.37. Those are hardly figures expected from a player with a ₹7-crore price tag expected to be one of the more stable middle-order options. Iyer has looked low on confidence, not converting starts, and not imposing himself over quality bowling. Form Vs Price Tag RCB are at the crossroads of making a philosophical decision here. Do they back Iyer for his past impact and price tag, or do they go with form? To disregard Padikkal's current form would be to send a message that reputation matters more than performance, something teams are trying to avoid. Importance of Number 3 The three position usually defines an innings. It acts as a buffer between fortifying and going for aggression. RCB needs control at this position with a lot of power already present lower down the order. Padikkal's consistency offers that control. Also Read | BBL Play-off Scenarios Explained as League Phase Nears its End The Conclusives On a plain calculation, one can easily tell how far in form Padikkal is. His home dominance, across all formats of the game, paints a strong picture for starting IPL 2026 at number three. For RCB, getting this one right could mean the difference between yet another near-miss and a title challenge.