The names Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore go together. The two have been together since the beginning of the Indian Premier League. Virat was back with the U19 team at the World Cup in Malaysia when the draft process for the inaugural edition of the IPL took place. As per the rules, each franchise had the option to choose two U-19 players and there was a salary ceiling for them.
Reportedly, two franchises were after the services of Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore, his final destination and Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals). He was picked by RCB for USD 30,000 as Delhi picked Pradeep Sangwan, the left-arm pacer of the World Cup-winning Under-19 India team that year.
Now, while talking with Danish Sait on RCB’s official podcast, Kohli revealed that he couldn’t believe the amount he was picked for. “We were all in Malaysia for the Under-19 World Cup. I remember the day when drafts were happening. The U-19 dynamic was a little different, because we had money limits, if I may say. That was the only time I saw the restriction on how much you can get selected if you haven’t played for India.
“So that for us, I can remember how wonderful that moment was for us too. Because when they announced it, we couldn’t believe the amount we got because it was totally insane.”
Kohli, who hails from Delhi, said that he understands that the franchise did not bid for him and it ultimately turned out to be very good for the batsman as he did not want to play for any other franchise other than RCB.
“There was a conversation where I heard from people that the Delhi team was keen to go after me, but their team dynamic was such that they went for Pradeep Sangwan, who was a left-arm pacer. An amazing bowler, at that time he was our best bowler in the U-19 team. So Delhi decided to go for them as they wanted the bowling power.”
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“RCB picked me, which, I think, was such an influential moment in my life that I didn’t realize at that time. But now that I look back, things would have been very different from what they are now. I don’t want to take it any other way.”
Virat Kohli was at the helm of the RCB franchise for eight years before he decided to step down at the end of last season. However, the stylish batsman was retained by the franchise for INR 15 crores. Virat Kohli has never been in the IPL auction since the inaugural edition of the IPL after he was signed by RCB.
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