Devdutt Padikkal has been sidelined from the rest of the IPL 2025 with a hamstring injury. They have quickly signed Mayank Agarwal as the replacement for the rest of the campaign.
Padikkal didn’t have a great season for the last two years. However, he was a revelation for RCB this year. Batting at number three, he has hit two half-centuries and made 247 runs in 10 innings. He had a strike rate of 150.61, his highest in an IPL season so far.
Mo Bobat, the RCB director of Cricket, said that it was unfortunate to lose him. Here is what he said.
“It’s really unfortunate to lose Devdutt at this stage of the tournament, especially after the impact he’s had this season. He’s been a key part of our top order. We wish him a speedy recovery. At the same time, we’re pleased to welcome Mayank Agarwal to RCB. His experience and versatility will prove valuable for us as we head into the business end of the season.”
His injury absence is a big setback for RCB because it worked well for them. As a left-handed batter, he fit well in the cluster of right-handed batters. Padikkal credited Dinesh Karthik for his role in making him a better batter.
“Technically, there were a few things I needed to change in order to be at my best. So, DK [Dinesh Karthik, batting coach] and Andy [Flower, head coach] have worked on me relentlessly over the last couple of months, and that’s really working now.”
Mayank Agarwal will join the RCB side as a replacement for Padikkal for the rest of the season. He has ample IPL experience and played 127 games and made 13 fifties, and one hundred. RCB was the first IPL team Agarwal played for, and he has stints with multiple teams. He went unsold in the IPL Auction 2025 late last year. Now, the 34-year-old has been signed up for INR 1 crore.