Chikara’s Moment: Can RCB’s Wild Card Fix Their No. 3 Problem?

Just as RCB seemed to comfortably book their spot in the playoffs, the universe threw them a classic IPL curveball – Devdutt Padikkal is out. That’s right, the left-hander, who has been on quietly consistently the whole season and has held the top order together, is absent. And with the playoffs drawing nearer, and history on the line (RCB could be the first team to win every away game in a season of the league), this is not the selection headache you want to face. Who comes in number three? Let’s take a look.

The Mayank Agarwal Question

Mayank brings wisdom and pedigree, but his T20 spark has flickered—2025’s IPL hasn’t felt the heat from his bat, and franchises have started to look the other way.

Swapping Padikkal for Agarwal feels safe—maybe too safe. But can RCB afford default mode when they need a game-changer? This season, this team has played and enjoyed success based on backing aggressive and fresh methods—look at their away form. Mayank would plug in as a class case of anchoring too early, and Virat has acclimated to that form already. Do you want 2 anchors at the top in this format?

Of course, you can’t ignore Mayank’s pedigree. He’s been around, he’s captained sides, and he has a good cricket brain. However, the nature of the IPL is such that sometimes it demands a brave call, and this could be one of those times.

Also read:- Dhoni’s Future in Doubt? Here’s What We Made of His CSK vs KKR Statement

Swastik Chikara: Bold Bet or Masterstroke in the Making?

Let us introduce Swastik Chikara—his name may not ring a bell with many of the casual fans, but he has been making waves quietly in the domestic arena—he has topped the run charts in last year’s UPT20 League, was with the Delhi Capitals at the IPL last season, and has been working behind the scenes for his IPL opportunity.

If you have a playoff berth in sight, why not go ahead and take the risk? If it means keeping someone like Mayank in the spare, all the better. Chikara has the ability to bring flair, attacking flair, and the hunger of a young player who has not yet proven himself. These players are what have lit up the IPL historically – Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, or even Tilak Varma.

And, given RCB’s more relaxed approach to using Impact Players, they have a safety net. You can see what Chikara can do early, and if it doesn’t happen at the time, you put a more experienced player into that place. This is not just about filling a spot, this is about supporting potential and keeping the interest level high.

What About Bethel, Shepherd, and Pandya?

Let’s not ignore that this is not a one-player decision, it impacts the overall balance of the XI. The potential inclusion of Phil Salt only makes it more complex. If Salt plays, and Bethel is considered at No. 3, then Romario Shepherd may well have to miss out, which is a big decision, considering that Shepherd has already produced several match-winning cameos this season.

And we can also consider Krunal Pandya. He has the ability to swing the momentum with his bat during the last away series, and is likewise another left-hand option that RCB will be missing with Padikkal unavailable. His potential to be a floating batter and serve as an adequate spin option may become even more important, especially if they struggle as a non-left-hand facing side against a predominantly pace attack like LSG.

So, what would you choose if you were in RCB’s shoes? Stay with experience or roll with youth? One thing for certain: this decision may, in reality, truly be the difference between playoff ineptitude as opposed to championship glory.