The renowned left-handed batter of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Devdutt Padikkal, has been released by the Gulbarga Mystics ahead of the upcoming Maharaj T20 Trophy 2025. It has sparked debate in the domestic events. His absence from the squad, as per reports, despite the outstanding performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, has raised a few questions among the fans. 

The Mystics, who were captained by Padikkal, during the last season of the event, are likely to retain RCB's Vyshak Vijaykumar, Luvnith Sisodia, Smran Ravichandran, and Praveen Dubey ahead of the left-handed batter. In the last season, Vijaykumar was the leading wicket-taker of the side with 11 wickets at an average of under 26.

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The reports have reckoned that the Karnataka Cricket Association (KSCA) could announce the retentions and the other key dates of the event. Sisodia was the top run-getter of the side during the previous season when he clubbed 314 runs in 11 innings. On the other hand, Ravichandran drilled 302 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 145.19 and an average of 43.62.

Gulbarga Mystics to deny RCB player Devdutt Padikkal in the Maharaj T20 League 2025

Praveen Dubey didn’t enjoy a great season with the ball, earning just four wickets in six innings at an average of nearly 40. The economy rate was also around nine. That has raised more eyebrows before an international batter getting retained. Padikkal had a tough IPL 2024 for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where he managed only 38 runs at an average of below six.

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Gulbarga Mystics Retentions

Smaran Ravichandran
Praveen Dubey
Luvnith Sisodia
Vyshak Vijaykumar

Surprisingly DDP was their captain last season and he is not retained 👀

— CHIKU JI❤️💫 (@MaticKohli251) July 12, 2025

As his T20 career was getting into the sunset, the 25-year-old found the rhythm for the Mystics with 253 runs in 10 innings with an impressive strike rate of 140.55. He was the third-leading run-getter of the franchise last year, as they reached the semi-final and lost the game against the Bengaluru Blasters.

For the IPL 2025, he got back into the RCB side for a price of INR 2 crore and found a mojo at number three. The southpaw ended the season with 247 runs in 10 games at an average of 27.44 and a strike rate of 150.60, shouldering two half-centuries, as they went on to earn their maiden title of the event.