'I am looking forward to having Venkatesh Iyer in the side' - Devdutt Padikkal on competition for No. 3 position at RCB in IPL 2026

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were very keen on acquiring Venkatesh Iyer's services ahead of IPL 2025. However, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) eventually retained him for a whopping INR 23.75 crore. After the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder had a forgettable season for the three-time champions in IPL 2025, the Knights decided to release him. This provided another opportunity for RCB to rope in the southpaw during the IPL 2026 mini-auction, and they did so for INR 7 crore.

Last season, Devdutt Padikkal played a key role at No. 3 for RCB. In 10 matches, he scored 247 runs at a strike rate of 150.60. He registered two half-centuries during the campaign before being ruled out ahead of the business end due to an injury. With Venkatesh's arrival, there is going to be competition for the No. 3 slot in the RCB batting order in IPL 2026. However, Padikkal isn't too perturbed, and he hopes that both of them will be able to play key roles for the defending champions in the upcoming season.

"Of course, if you are playing in the IPL, you are always bound to have competition. Venky is a great player and I have played a lot of matches with and against him. I am looking forward to having him in the side. Hopefully, we both can contribute to the team's success," he said on InsideSport's YouTube channel.

Padikkal has been in remarkable form in domestic cricket this season. He is the leading run-getter in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, having amassed 721 runs in eight innings at an average of 103 and a strike rate of 100.27. The Karnataka batter has notched up four centuries and two fifties so far.

In the first quarter-final against Mumbai on Monday, January 12, Padikkal scored an unbeaten 81 off 95 balls at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Karnataka won the match by 55 runs via VJD method to advance to the semi-final.