India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak credits Devdutt Padikkal’s recent success to work on his back-foot play and improved shot selection. Kotak’s remarks come after Padikkal scores his maiden international century, highlighted in coverage as a “wonderful” debut hundred at the international level.

The outlets emphasize that the coach points to specific technical focus areas rather than attributing the innings purely to form or luck. In this framing, Padikkal’s performance is presented as the result of deliberate preparation and refinement of how he builds and executes shots, particularly on the back foot. The reporting does not cite disagreements among outlets on the main points, and the narrative centers on coaching feedback and Padikkal’s translating that preparation into match performance.

Overall, the different write-ups rest on the same core storyline: Kotak publicly acknowledges Padikkal’s development in back-foot technique and shot selection following his maiden international hundred, with the technical adjustments treated as the key context for his innings.