On Monday, March 11, Royal Challengers Bangalore paid tribute to Virat Kohli as he marked 16 years with the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). RCB celebrated Kohli’s unwavering loyalty to the team, as he remains the sole player to have represented the same franchise since the inception of the tournament.

On March 11, 2008, Royal Challengers Bangalore secured Virat Kohli’s services through a draft system, which allowed franchises to select players from the U19 World Cup that year. Kohli was acquired for a reported USD 30,000. Reflecting on his initial auction experience, the former U19 World Cup-winning captain revealed that there were purported interests from Delhi Capitals, but ultimately, he was drafted into RCB.

RCB shared a video showcasing Virat Kohli’s journey over the years, paired with the theme song from the renowned Kannada blockbuster KGF.

Kohli’s Reign: From star player to captaining RCB

Kohli quickly made his presence felt for RCB, even among a star-studded lineup featuring legends like Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, and Jacques Kallis. He assumed the captaincy in 2013, guiding the team to the final in 2016, where he amassed a record-breaking total of 973 runs, including four centuries. However, despite Kohli’s stellar performance, his team fell short to David Warner’s SunRisers Hyderabad in the final.

Throughout the years, Kohli has been a consistent run-scorer for RCB, tallying 7263 runs in 237 matches, which includes seven centuries. He served as RCB’s captain for eight years before stepping down after the IPL 2021 season. In the last two seasons, Kohli has played under the leadership of Faf du Plessis, maintaining his crucial role as the linchpin of RCB’s batting lineup.

Kohli’s loyalty: A Testament to Team commitment

Notably, Virat Kohli has been candid about receiving offers from other franchises and has explained his decision to remain loyal to RCB over the years.“In all honesty, I did consider it. Yes, I won’t deny it—I’ve been approached several times to enter the auction, to put my name out there and all,” Kohli stated in 2022.

“For me, the value of loyalty with RCB, much like how I live my life, holds greater significance than the fleeting satisfaction of winning the IPL with just any other team. Sure, it might feel good for a few moments, but then the very next minute, you could be dealing with other issues in life. So, it’s not the be-all and end-all for me,” he elaborated.

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Kohli, who missed the England Test series due to paternity leave, is eager to make an impact in IPL 2024 and assist his team in their quest to finally clinch the coveted title.