New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s name has become synonymous with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is the only active player in IPL history who has played for a single franchise throughout his career and has gone on record to state that he will never play for any other franchise. Kohli has been with RCB right from the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008 and has gone on to become a legend of the franchise.
One of the best batters of the present era, Kohli is currently the leading run-getter of all time in the IPL with a whopping 8,004 runs to his name in 252 matches at an average of over 38, including 8 centuries and 55 fifties. The fact that no other batter has managed to cross the 7,000-run mark yet in the IPL is a testament to Kohli’s incredible consistency in the tournament.
Kohli has been with RCB since the first edition of IPL in 2008 but is yet to win the elusive trophy. However, that has not deterred his determination as he has refrained from seeking greener pastures elsewhere and has decided to remain with the franchise through thick and thin. Kohli has never played for any other team apart from RCB in the IPL and intends to end his career at the franchise.
How much was Virat Kohli sold for in IPL 2008 auction?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked up Virat Kohli for a sum of USD 30,000 (roughly Rs 12 lakh at the time) in the IPL 2008 auction. Kohli had entered the IPL auction fresh after leading the Indian U-19 team to a memorable triumph in the 2008 U-19 World Cup where he notched up 235 runs in 6 matches and finished as the second-highest run-getter for India.
Delhi Capitals (DC) had the chance to sign Kohli as a local player. However, DC opted to go for left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan to bolster their bowling attack, thus missing out on one of the greatest batters of the current era. Kohli, who started as a prodigious young talent went on to establish his credentials as one of the greats of the game at RCB.
Kohli was appointed as RCB’s full-time captain in 2013 when he took over the reins from Daniel Vettori. He led RCB for 9 seasons before stepping down from the post after the 2021 season. Kohli enjoyed an unbelievable season with the bat and as captain in IPL 2016 where he notched up a whopping 973 runs in 16 matches at a stunning average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152, the most by any batter in a single season.
However, he failed to inspire his side to glory as RCB lost to David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. Kohli remains a vital cog in the RCB line-up under captain Faf du Plessis and is likely to be retained ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction later this year.
How much did Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pay to sign superstar Virat Kohli in the inaugural IPL auction in 2008? Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
