Urvil Patel with MS Dhoni (Source: @urvil_patel_37/Instagram.com)
After joining Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a replacement for Vansh Bedi, wicketkeeping batter Urvil Patel rocked the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with his batting exploits in limited chances. In a recent interview, Patel confirmed that he declined a request by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) so that he could join CSK.
Urvil Patel Confirms Rejecting RCB
In what turned out to be a masterstroke by the five-time IPL winners, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the signing of Urvil Patel proved to be a turning point in their fortunes. Despite finishing last on the points table, CSK had a decent final stage of the game, where they won two of their last three matches, having previously won only two.
Urvil, who is a power hitter, recently appeared on the Game Changers Podcast's YouTube channel, where he confirmed the rumours that he was first approached by the eventual IPL 2025 winners, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as a replacement for Devdutt Padikkal.
"When I came to know about it, I was very excited because I remember there were two good news for me on the same day. I first got a call from RCB that Devdutt Padikkal might have been injured. So, they were looking for a replacement. So, they called me first, but they didn’t confirm whether they would pick me. They asked me to come for a 15-day trial,” he said.
However, on the very same day, CSK approached him too, but offered him chances in the starting twelve. Patel revealed that CSK analyst AR Srikkanth called him and confirmed that he would be in the side for the remaining three games, which sealed the deal for Urvil.
"After one hour, I got a call from CSK. Srikanth Sir from scouting called me and said they are considering me as a replacement player. So, be ready. So, I was confused. I said, ‘Sir, RCB also called me.’ He said they were sure about my inclusion in the team. He told me to be ready and wait for BCCI’s approval. It was a very good moment for me. I remember we were on vacation, so the family was together. I remember the call was around 1 pm, and I told the family in the evening that it’s clear that I am going to CSK," he added.
RCB eventually signed Mayank Agarwal as Padikkal's replacement, while Patel joined CSK as Vansh Bedi's replacement, who got injured at the last minute in CSK's previous game.
Urvil Patel Went Unsold In the IPL Auction
After registering at a base price of 30 lakhs, Patel went unsold in the auction, as he was making rounds in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 trophy, where he smashed two centuries, one of 28 deliveries (which is still a record by an Indian as the fastest ton in T20 cricket) and then a 36-ball century ton in the same tournament. However, despite that, he went unsold after previously having a contract with the Gujarat Titans, who released him before the mega auction.
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