16 Years of Virat Kohli: A Journey of Loyalty and Runs in the IPL

Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket star, has re-defined loyalty in the flashy world of the IPL. For an astounding 16 years, he has put on the red and gold of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise, becoming a true legend of the team. It’s no lie when I say, that Virat Kohli is one of those players who has made his name and record in almost every tournament in all three formats.

Kohli’s journey began in 2008, a time when he was a rising star. Having led India’s Under-19 team to World Cup victory, defeating South Africa in final, Kohli scored 235 runs with a strike rate of 94.95 at an average of 47 in the tournament, making him India’s second-highest run-scorer. It was after this that he was drafted into the IPL by RCB. From his early days as a talented cricketer who led U-19 team India to victory to his illustrious career in the Indian cricket team, Kohli’s journey has been nothing short of excellent and magic!

Since then, he has been an essential part of the RCB family. The batting maestro’s journey with RCB has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with some victories, a bit of disappointment, and of course, brilliant support from the fans.

Interestingly, Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals) passed on him, but RCB saw his potential and picked him up for a measly Rs 12 lakh, who later became the highest-paid player in the league. Virat is the only player in IPL’s history to represent one franchise in every IPL season.

Virat was still a rookie back then and he earned the same amount in IPL 2009 and 2010. He made his India debut in 2008 and became a regular in the white-ball teams in the next couple of years. RCB saw a future star in Virat and he was the sole player that they retained ahead of the IPL 2011 mega-auction. Virat received a huge pay raise and he was paid a retention amount of Rs 8.28 crore. Those early years were Kohli’s building blocks. He was a young talent honing his skills, and RCB, recognizing his future, retained him ahead of the 2011 mega-auction. This faith paid off – Kohli blossomed into a batting phenomenon. He smashed records, becoming the IPL’s highest run-scorer with a mind-boggling 7,263 runs in 237 matches! He also holds the record for most centuries (7) by an Indian batsman in the IPL.

Some of his IPL records consists of Kohli as the player with the -Most runs in a single season of IPL (973 in 2016), Most centuries in IPL in one season (4), Third-most fours in IPL (643), Second most 50+ scores in IPL (50), and Most centuries in IPL (7).

But Kohli’s impact went beyond runs. He captained RCB from 2013 to 2021, leading them to the finals in 2016, which was considered one of Kohli’s best seasons so far. Though the IPL trophy remained out of reach, Kohli’s leadership and passion inspired both teammates and fans.

Despite stepping down as captain in 2021, Kohli’s loyalty to RCB remains unwavering. He’s become a symbol of the franchise, his dedication earning him immense respect from fans. They celebrate his every six, every roar – a testament to the special bond he shares with the team and the city of Bangalore.

This year, Kohli returns to the field after a short break, ready to add another chapter to his remarkable IPL story. As RCB gears up for the tournament opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 22nd, one thing’s for sure: the cricketing world will be watching, eager to witness the magic of Virat Kohli in the red and gold once again.