Ahead of their crucial IPL 2025 clash against Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) welcomed a familiar face back into their fold—Mayank Agarwal. The experienced opener, who began his IPL journey with RCB in 2011, has been drafted in as a replacement for the injured Devdutt Padikkal, whose campaign has been cut short by a hamstring injury. The announcement came on May 8 via RCB’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, where they shared a heartwarming video featuring Virat Kohli personally welcoming Mayank back to the franchise.
In a nostalgic and emotional message, Kohli reflected on their long-standing connection and praised Agarwal’s unwavering dedication to the game. “I had the pleasure of working with another young man from Bangalore, who started at RCB years ago and broke through with fearless cricket,” Vorat Kohli said, recalling Agarwal’s early IPL days. “He did some special things for us back then—took on the bowlers without fear—and over the years, we’ve shared a lot of cricket memories, both on and off the field. He’s a top guy, someone who gives his all for the team every single time.”
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Kohli highlighted that while the circumstances of Agarwal’s return weren’t ideal, fate had a way of working things out. “He always wanted to return to RCB. Maybe not like this, but God has his plans. Your hard work speaks volumes. You’ve never stopped pushing yourself, and we know you’ll make a big impact again. Welcome back home.”
Mayank, now a seasoned campaigner, has played 127 IPL matches, scoring 2,661 runs at an average of 22.74, including 13 half-centuries and a ton. His return adds depth and experience to an RCB top-order that’s heading into the playoff push. In the same video, Kohli also took a moment to acknowledge the contribution of Devdutt Padikkal, who had shown significant form this season before his injury.
“Dev, we can’t feel exactly what you’re going through, especially now with the playoffs approaching. I know it must be heartbreaking,” Virat Kohli began. “But I want you to know that you’ve played a massive role in getting us to this stage. Be proud of that.”
“Dev, you’ve played a massive role in us being here, very well done. I’ve had a lot of fun working with you! And we wish you a speedy recovery”: 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 🫡
Virat welcomes Mayank to the team and thanks Dev for all the good work, on @bigbasket_com presents RCB Bold… pic.twitter.com/tpXv5MJ61r
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 8, 2025
Kohli went on to recall a key moment of reassurance he shared with Padikkal during a tough phase. “Back when we were in Australia and things were uncertain with the auction, I told you—this is your moment to shine at number three. And you took that on brilliantly. You reinvented your game, and that takes courage.”
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Kohli’s message wasn’t just a farewell for the season—it was a show of belief in Padikkal’s future. “Working closely with you, sharing the crease, and our conversations—I’ve enjoyed it all. I genuinely believe this injury setback will be a springboard. You’ll come back stronger in all formats. From myself and the whole team, we wish you a speedy recovery. Hats off for your contribution.”
Padikkal featured in 10 games this season, scoring 247 runs at an average of 27.44, with two important fifties under his belt. His absence will be felt, but the arrival of Mayank Agarwal, someone who understands the RCB ethos and is deeply connected with the franchise, may well help fill that gap as Bengaluru eyes the playoff spot with momentum on their side.
