From a promising U-19 World Cup-winning captain to the highest-paid player in Royal Challengers Bengaluru history, Virat Kohli’s journey with RCB is nothing short of legendary. His association with the franchise began in 2008, the same year he led India to glory at the U-19 World Cup, securing a contract with RCB for the inaugural IPL season.
As U-19 players weren’t part of the initial IPL auction, they were selected through a pre-season draft. Former RCB owner Vijay Mallya recently revealed that he was the one who personally selected Kohli, deeply impressed by the young talent’s performance in the junior World Cup. “I picked Virat,” Mallya shared on Raj Shamani’s YouTube channel, adding, “There were young cricketers and it was draw by lots. I got to pick and immediately went for Virat.”
He further elaborated on his decision, stating, “Shortly before the selection process, they were playing the U19 world cup, and I was very impressed. So I picked him. And 18 years later, he’s still there. He was a young kid that time. Full of energy, great talent and (now) one of the greatest Indian cricketers ever.” Little did anyone know then that this teenager would evolve into one of the sport’s greatest batters.
In a recent turn of events, Virat Kohli’s long-cherished dream of winning an IPL trophy with RCB finally materialized earlier this week. The team secured a thrilling six-run victory against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, marking a significant milestone in Kohli’s illustrious career with the franchise.
