Back in Bengaluru Colors, Padikkal Reflects on His Journey, Kohli’s Mentorship, and His Burning Desire to Bring the Trophy Home
New Delhi, April 9: Devdutt Padikkal, the stylish southpaw and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter, has opened up about his emotional return to the franchise, the surreal experience of being mentored by Virat Kohli, and his dream of lifting the IPL trophy for the team that gave him his big break.
After a three-season hiatus — two with Rajasthan Royals and one with Lucknow Super Giants — Padikkal rejoined RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction for his base price of ₹2 crore. Now back in the red and gold, the 24-year-old revealed how special it feels to be reunited with the franchise he has always carried in his heart.
“Working with Virat, being around him — it’s something truly special,” Padikkal shared on the latest episode of RCB Bold Diaries. “During my third season with RCB, Virat was officially assigned as my mentor. It was surreal. Just the idea of one of the greats of the game guiding you for two months — it was fascinating. I learned so much simply by being around him all day.”
The young batter also expressed his deep emotional connection with the franchise and its passionate fanbase. “Even when I wasn’t part of the squad, I had a soft spot for RCB. I would watch them play and hope they win. Now that I’m back, my only dream is to lift the IPL trophy with RCB.”
RCB’s campaign in IPL 2025 is off to a promising start, with the team currently sitting third on the points table after three wins from four matches.
“As an RCB fan myself, I know what this team means to the supporters. Every RCB fan dreams of that title — and so do I,” Padikkal added.
With a solid core and Kohli’s unwavering presence, Padikkal and the RCB squad are aiming to rewrite history and secure that elusive championship title this season.