Devdutt Padikkal Ruled Out of IPL 2025 Due to Injury; Mayank Agarwal Returns to RCB as Replacement

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have suffered a major blow as left-handed opener Devdutt Padikkal has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2025 season due to a hamstring injury. To fill the gap, veteran Indian batter Mayank Agarwal has been signed by the franchise for the closing stages of the tournament.

The 34-year-old Agarwal rejoins RCB for ₹1 crore. He previously played for the franchise between 2011 and 2013, appearing in 35 matches and scoring 492 runs at a strike rate of 128.79.

In his IPL career so far, Mayank has featured in 127 matches, scoring 2,661 runs. His record includes one century and 13 half-centuries, making him a seasoned and dependable option at the top of the order.

Padikkal’s injury is a significant setback for RCB, particularly because of the balance he brought as a left-hander among a lineup of right-handed batters. He had an impressive season with 247 runs in 10 innings at an average of 27.44 and a strike rate of 150.60—markedly better than last season’s average of 5.42 and strike rate of 71.69.

RCB, who are just one win away from securing a playoff berth, will face Lucknow Super Giants in a crucial match this Friday.