IPL 2026: “I’ve always had that soft spot for RCB” -Devdutt Padikkal Opens Up on Special Bond
Devdutt Padikkal says returning to RCB for IPL 2026 is special, as he finally hopes to play at Chinnaswamy after strong domestic form.
Devdutt Padikkal has said his bond with Royal Challengers Bengaluru has always been emotional, calling his retention ahead of IPL 2026 a moment he truly values after years of feeling connected to the franchise.
Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Padikkal said he has had a “soft spot” for RCB since childhood and admitted it always felt strange playing against them after moving to other teams in the IPL.
“It was weird. My friends and family were supporting me. Coming out to play for other teams against RCB was always a little bit weird,” Padikkal said, explaining how his heart often stayed with the Bengaluru side.
Padikkal played for RCB in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, before the Covid-19 bubble years meant the team did not get to play home matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. That remains his biggest regret from his first stint.
“I’ve always wanted to play in front of the Chinnaswamy in the IPL,” he said. “When I was in RCB before, unfortunately we couldn’t have games here so it was pretty heartbreaking.”
He added that returning to the stadium in RCB colours will finally make the experience complete, something he never felt when he came back to Bengaluru with other franchises.
Padikkal is one of 17 players retained by RCB ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, a move that underlines the franchise’s faith in him as part of their core Indian batting group.
During his time with RCB, Padikkal had a strong run, especially in his third season with the team. He scored 247 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 150.60, as RCB ended their long title wait in a campaign driven by Virat Kohli’s batting and Josh Hazlewood’s bowling.
His return also comes at a time when Padikkal is in good domestic form. In the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he finished as Karnataka’s second-highest run-scorer.
He made 309 runs in six matches at a strike rate of 167.02, hitting 36 fours and 12 sixes, showing a clear shift towards more aggressive T20 batting.
That form, combined with his familiarity with Bengaluru conditions, makes him a valuable option for RCB as they plan for a full home season at Chinnaswamy in IPL 2026.
For Padikkal, though, the motivation goes beyond numbers. After years of watching RCB with affection, he now gets the chance to play for the team he always wanted to represent, in front of the crowd he dreamed of batting for.
