Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2025: 'Really Excited for the Season,' says Devdutt Padikkal After Joining Hubli Tigers as Most Expensive Player

The Hubli Tigers have made a bold statement ahead of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 Season 4 by securing Indian left-handed batsman Devdutt Padikkal for ₹13.20 lakh, making him the tournament's most expensive player at this year's auction.

This significant acquisition reflects the Tigers' strong intentions to win the title in the competition running from August 11 to 27 at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Padikkal, one of India's brightest young cricket talents, impressed last season while playing for the Gulbarga Mystics, scoring 253 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 140.55 with two half-centuries, helping his team reach the semifinals. He made his international debut for India in July 2021 and recently scored a half-century on his Test debut in Australia, signaling his rising stature in Indian cricket. He will now debut for Hubli Tigers in their opening game against Shivamogga Lions on August 12.

Expressing his excitement about joining Hubli Tigers, Padikkal said, "Obviously, I am really excited for the season. Hubli Tigers is a very nice franchise to be a part of. I have heard a lot about them and I am obviously happy with how the squad is. We are pretty well-balanced so I am looking forward to the season. It's really great mood in the camp. Especially, in the Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, you play with a lot of these guys throughout the year anyway. So, it's good to meet a few of them, some of them who I have played with before as well. It's been really great so far and I am really happy with the squad," he revealed.

The Hubli Tigers have also strengthened their lineup by acquiring powerful batters like Abhinav Manohar and experienced players like Mohammed Taha, alongside emerging young talents such as Prakhar Chaturvedi, Sankalp SS, Samarth Nagaraj, Rakshith S, Nithin Shanthaveri Nagaraja, and Yash Raj Punja. Last season's runners-up, the Tigers are determined to go one step further this time.

Padikkal highlighted the importance of the tournament for local talent development, stating, "The Shriram Capital Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 has always been a great platform for everyone in Karnataka to showcase their talents. This year will be no different, to be honest. I am sure there will be a few very exciting players that will come up from this tournament and I am eager to see how they perform."

With all six teams - defending champions Mysore Warriors, Bengaluru Blasters, Hubli Tigers, Gulbarga Mystics, Shivamogga Lions, and Mangaluru Dragons - fielding strong squads, the tournament promises highly competitive cricket action. Hubli Tigers' major auction moves, including the high-profile signing of Padikkal, emphasize their ambition to clinch the title this season.

Every game will be crucial, and as Padikkal concluded, "Every game is important and I will continue to look to improve. At the end of the day, we want to win the tournament and that's pretty much the same goal."