Devdutt Padikkal was one of the best performers for the Royal Challengers Bangalore before the IPL season. Although scoring two half-centuries against the Mumbai Indians the previous year, the 20-year-old is away from the RCB playing XI for their first match of IPL 2021.
Virat Kohli disclosed at the toss that although Devdutt Padikkal has recovered from COVID-19, the medical team has advised him to rest for some time and skip the first match. As a result, Padikkal is unavailable for selection today.
Devdutt Padikkal miss out due to health issues as he recovered just from COVID19. And Devdutt Padikkal is likely to come back in the next game.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 9, 2021
Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli were places to open the innings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. Although, now that Devdutt is on the sidelines, Kohli will have to search for a new opening partner against the Mumbai Indians.
Mohammed Azharuddin was one of the possibilities to replace Devdutt Padikkal, but the Royal Challengers Bangalore did not select him for this game. Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, Daniel Christian, Harshal Patel and Washington Sundar are the batting available choices with RCB tonight.
Also read:- “I’ll be back in no time” – Shreyas Iyer after successful surgery
Rajat Patidar or Washington Sundar to likely open the innings in Devdutt Padikkal’s absence
Rajat Patidar could be the right choice for opening the innings with Virat Kohli. Although, Rajat has primarily batted in the middle-order at the domestic level games. Accordingly, all-rounder, Washington Sundar could partner with Virat at the top currently.
Sundar was in great touch with the bat during the series against England. He has played a lot of match in Chennai, and the all-rounder has also opened quite a couple of times in his career. Also, RCB will have a left-hand-right-hand association if Sundar opens.
Captain Kohli has won the toss and we will be bowling first 😎
Ready for tonight's entertainment, 12th Man Army?🤩#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #MIvRCB #DareToDream pic.twitter.com/nE8Sg3kGjR
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 9, 2021
Also read:- “I’ll be back in no time” – Shreyas Iyer after successful surgery