RCB Select Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill and Pat Cummins for IPL 2022

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a decent run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. They reached the playoffs before going down to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Eliminator. Before mega auction RCB select Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill and Pat Cummins for IPL 2022.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) retained Virat Kohli (Rs 15 crore), Glenn Maxwell (Rs 11 crore), Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore). As the IPL Governing Council has allowed each franchise to retain a maximum of four players, most of the franchises utilised the provision to keep their premium players for a longer duration. A total of 27 players were retained in the retention list by the eight existing teams.

Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is the only Australian who has been retained by any IPL side for the next season. Maxwell scored 513 runs from 15 matches at the strike rate of 144.10 and also returned with three wickets with the ball. The Australian all-rounder was retained by RCB alongside Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj for IPL 2022.

Virat Kohli, who led RCB for nearly a decade, stepped down from the captaincy role at the end of IPL 2021 in October. RCB will also miss the service of their experienced campaigner AB de Villiers as he declared his retirement from all formats of the game on November 19. The team management, which will be led by Sanjay Bangar from next season onwards, will have to think meticulously to restructure and build a ferocious team in order to win their elusive title.

RCB has reached the IPL final thrice in their IPL journey but hasn’t managed to lift the coveted trophy. Even this year they displayed great intent in the group stage after finishing third on the points table with 18 points. RCB might Target these 3 players in IPL 2022 mega auction.

Devdutt Padikkal: The Karnataka left-handed opener made his IPL debut for RCB in 2020 and has been integral in changing the approach of their batting at the top. The 21-year-old prodigious batter has amassed 884 runs from 29 innings at the strike rate of 125.04.

Padikkal slammed 101 runs off 52 balls against Rajasthan Royals in the first leg of IPL 2021 in Mumbai as RCB won by 10 wickets. His scintillating hundred included 11 fours and six sixes.

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Shubman Gill: After spending four seasons at Kolkata Knight Riders, Gill was released by the franchise ahead of the mega auction. The Indian opener made 1417 runs from 58 IPL games at the strike rate of 123 and has 10 half-centuries to his name.

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He scored 478 runs from 17 games at an average of 28.11 and was also part of the team that lost to CSK in IPL 2021 final, where he made 51 from 43 balls. Gill could become handy in RCB’ opening slot and get them the important runs in the Powerplay overs.

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Pat Cummins: The Australian Test skipper made headlines after getting picked by KKR for a whopping amount of INR 15.50 crore in the IPL 2020 auction. Cummins picked 21 wickets in his second stint with KKR but was not available for the UAE league in this season as he wanted to be with his wife for the birth of their child.

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Cummins was part of Australia’s T20 World Cup title campaign and himself bagged five wickets from seven games at an average of 35.40. RCB is missing a prolific pace bowler since Mitchell Starc left them after IPL 2015 and in Cummins, they might fill that void.