Virat Kohli, the former captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has opened up about his long-standing relationship with the franchise and how he was initially backed by them even when other teams weren’t interested in him. In a recent interview with Robin Uthappa on Jio Cinema, Kohli shared his journey with RCB and how he rejected an offer from another franchise.
Kohli joined RCB in 2008 after leading India to victory in the U-19 World Cup. He made his debut for the team in the same year and initially batted in the middle order. After a few years, he was given the leadership of the side and since then, he has been a force to be reckoned with. Kohli has been with RCB since the inception of the league and has never come in the auction. With his exceptional performances on the field and his charismatic personality off it, he has garnered a massive fan following for the franchise.
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In the interview, Kohli revealed how RCB backed him in the early days of the IPL, even when he was not yet a regular member of the Indian team. He mentioned that the franchise showed faith in him and backed him a lot. In the first three years of the league, RCB retained him despite his initial demand to bat in the top-order. The team management agreed to his request, and Kohli has been a top-order batsman for RCB ever since.
Kohli also revealed that other franchises were not interested in him during the early days of the league. He had approached them with the request to bat higher up the order, but they were not keen on listening to him. However, after Kohli had performed well for India in 2011, some of these franchises wanted to include him in their team during the auction. Kohli declined their offers, citing his loyalty to RCB.
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Kohli’s dedication and loyalty to RCB have paid off, as he has become the franchise’s leading run-scorer in the IPL, with over 6,800 runs to his name. He has also scored five centuries and 47 half-centuries for the team. Kohli is currently playing in IPL 2023 and has been in great form, smashing three half-centuries in the five games he has played so far.
The upcoming match between RCB and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday, April 20, promises to be an exciting one. Kohli will be looking to continue his impressive form and help RCB secure another victory. As one of the most iconic players in the IPL, Kohli’s journey with RCB is a testament to his exceptional talent and his unwavering loyalty to the franchise that has supported him throughout his career.