Royal Challengers Bangalore player, Devdutt Padikkal has tested positive for COVID-19 and is said to be missing the first few matches of the upcoming season of IPL 2021. RCB now has to find a replacement of Devdutt, who plays as an opener in the team,. Royal Challengers Bangalore is scheduled to play as a season opener of the IPL 2021 against the defending champions Mumbai Indians on April 9, 2021. The match will take place in Chennai at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The Karnataka cricketer, Padikkal was the highest scorer for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he played a splendid debut in the Indian Premier League last year. He scored 473 runs in 15 matches among which, he smashed 5 half-centuries. The left-handed batsman was the eighth highest run-scorer of the tournament and was also awarded as the emerging player of the tournament for his brilliant batting performance.
As Devdutt Padikkal would not be able to be a part of the IPL 2021 for the first few matches, let’s take a look at the three possible players who could be a substitute for him as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener.
#3 Mohommed Azharuddeen
Mohommed Azharuddeen is a wicket-keeper batsman who will make a debut in IPL 2021, after being bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021 auction. He plays for Kerala domestic team. He became the first batsman to smash a century from Kerala in the T20 match, after smashing a century in 37 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21 game. The right-handed batsman is a powerful hitter, who has scored 451 runs at an average of 22 in the 24 T20 matches. He can be a nice option to play as a substitute for Devdutt Padikkalin the IPL 2021 season opener.
#2 KS Bharat
Royal Challengers Bangalore bought KS Bharat for Rs. 20 lakh in the IPL 2021 auction. Bharat used to play for Andhra Pradesh at domestic level. The 27-year-old cricketer was a part of Delhi Capitals in 2015 but did not play any match with them. As it is noted, in 2019, KS Bharat was a wicket-keeper for India’s test squad against Bangladesh. So far, Bharat has played 48 T20 matches and has scored 730 runs. He is another option for RCB to replace Devdutt Padikkal and seems to be a great fit to play as an opener in the first match of IPL 2021 in Chennai.
#1 Sachin Baby
Sachin Baby made his debut in IPL 2013 and has played for teams like Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. He could be a great player to be replaced as an opener for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the playing XXI for the first match. He has played a total of 18 matches in IPL 2013, IPL 2016 and IPL 2017 and is well experienced in it. Sachin Baby has scored 137 runs in lPL till date.