Devdutt Padikkal, one of the promising young talents in Indian cricket, has found his way back to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after a dramatic turn of events at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. The 23-year-old batsman, who was originally unsold in the first round of the auction, was picked up by RCB at the last moment for his base price of Rs. 2 crore.
Padikkal, who started his IPL career with RCB in 2020, was a key figure in the team during his first two seasons, scoring 473 runs in his debut season and consistently contributing to the team’s batting lineup. However, after moving to Rajasthan Royals and then to Lucknow Super Giants, his form has seen a dip.
In the 2024 season with Lucknow, Padikkal struggled to make an impact, managing only 38 runs in 7 matches. As a result, he was released by the Lucknow franchise, and his name was put up for auction once again.
Interestingly, Padikkal was not picked up by any team during the first round of the auction, despite his past successes. However, when he re-entered the bidding in the final moments, RCB saw the opportunity and secured him for his base price.
This is not the first time Padikkal has been a part of RCB. The left-handed opener had a stellar start to his IPL career with the team in 2020, scoring 473 runs, including five fifties, in his rookie season. Over the next two seasons, he continued to impress, scoring 411 runs, which included a century and a half-century.
Padikkal’s return to RCB is seen as a potential turning point in his IPL career. With RCB’s strong lineup and his previous success with the team, Padikkal will be looking to regain his form and make a solid contribution to the team in the upcoming season.
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