In a significant setback to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) playoff hopes, in-form batter Devdutt Padikkal has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2025 season due to a hamstring injury. The franchise, currently placed second on the points table behind Gujarat Titans on Net Run Rate, responded swiftly by bringing in veteran Mayank Agarwal as Padikkal’s replacement.
Padikkal was enjoying a breakthrough season with the bat at No. 3 for RCB, having amassed 247 runs in 10 matches at a blistering strike rate of 150.61 — the highest in his IPL career. His contributions included two match-defining half-centuries, marking a return to form after inconsistent performances in previous editions.
The injury is a major blow for Bengaluru, who have been riding a strong run of form in the league. Padikkal’s presence had provided the top order with much-needed stability and aggressive momentum.
Stepping into his shoes is Mayank Agarwal, a seasoned campaigner with 127 IPL appearances to his name. The 34-year-old brings vast experience and has previously scored over 2,500 IPL runs, including a century and 13 fifties. Ironically, Agarwal began his IPL journey with RCB and now returns to the franchise at a critical juncture.
Agarwal, who went unsold in the 2025 auction after a lean stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad last season — where he scored just 64 runs in four outings — has been signed by RCB for INR 1 crore.
