Devdutt Padikkal made an impressive entry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2020, showcasing his talent as a young left-handed batter. With 473 runs in his debut season for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Padikkal was awarded the Emerging Player of the Season. In 2021, he continued his form, scoring 411 runs in 14 matches, including an unforgettable century against the Rajasthan Royals.
However, in the 2022 mega auction, RCB was unable to retain Padikkal due to team regulations, and he was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Unfortunately, inconsistent batting positions impacted his performance, with his average falling to 22.12 in 2022. Although he bounced back slightly in 2023 with an average of 26.10, he was still far from his 2020-2021 performance levels.
RR eventually traded Padikkal to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he experienced his worst IPL season in 2024, scoring just 38 runs in seven matches at a low average of 5.43. LSG has now decided not to retain him for the 2025 IPL season. Despite his struggles, Padikkal’s potential may still attract attention from teams seeking a skilled left-hander.
Here are three IPL teams that might consider bidding on Padikkal in the upcoming mega auction:
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore: A Return to Familiar Grounds
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Padikkal and Virat Kohli’s opening partnership was a highlight for RCB fans, especially their 181-run stand against Rajasthan Royals in 2021. Since Padikkal is a Karnataka native with experience playing at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, he could feel right at home back in Bangalore. RCB’s recent release of Faf du Plessis leaves an opening slot that Padikkal could potentially fill, forming a strong pairing with Kohli again.
2. Lucknow Super Giants: A Second Chance in a New Role
Although Padikkal didn’t perform well for LSG last season, part of the issue was the lack of a stable batting position. As an opener, he has previously delivered his best performances, but LSG already had set openers in KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock. Now, with both Rahul and de Kock no longer in the team, LSG could consider re-signing Padikkal as a full-time opener, allowing him to bat in his preferred role.
3. Delhi Capitals: Reinforcing the Batting Order
Delhi Capitals (DC) have released their top-order batters Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and David Warner ahead of the 2025 auction, which means they need fresh talent at the top. With favourable batting conditions at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Padikkal could thrive and help balance DC’s lineup with his steady playstyle. Paired with power-hitters like Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs, he could bring stability and control to DC’s batting.
As Devdutt Padikkal prepares for the 2025 IPL mega auction, these teams may consider him a valuable addition, trusting that his natural talent can spark another standout season.
