Virat Kohli

Lore & Background

Over the years, he became the face of the franchise, captaining the side through multiple seasons. In 2023, though Faf du Plessis was the primary captain, Kohli took over the leadership for three matches when du Plessis was injured. His retention ahead of the 2022 mega-auction, alongside Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj, underscored his continued importance to the team's core.

In Their Own Story

During the 2023 season, Virat Kohli found himself back in the captain's role for three games when Faf du Plessis was sidelined by injury. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium crowd, ever loyal, watched as he marshaled the team with the same intensity that had defined his earlier tenure.

Reader's Guide

He was retained ahead of the 2022 mega-auction, one of only three players the side kept. In the 2023 season, he captained the team in three matches when Faf du Plessis was injured. His role in the squad remains central, though his leadership duties are now shared. Fans can expect him to continue as a key run-scorer and experienced presence in the dressing room.

Did You Know?

• Virat Kohli captained Royal Challengers Bangalore in three games during the 2023 season when Faf du Plessis was ruled out due to injury.
• He was one of three players retained by the side ahead of the 2022 mega-auction, alongside Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj.

Early Entry and Franchise Foundation

Selected during the second round of the inaugural player auction, he was signed by the Bangalore franchise while still recognized as an India under-19 World Cup-winning captain. This acquisition occurred alongside established stars like Jacques Kallis and Anil Kumble, though the team faced significant challenges in that debut season. The franchise struggled to find consistency, winning merely four of their fourteen matches and finishing seventh overall. During this difficult period, senior player Rahul Dravid was the sole individual to cross three hundred runs for the tournament. Management turmoil also characterized these early years, with CEO Charu Sharma being replaced midway through the campaign following public criticism from owner Vijay Mallya regarding selection strategies. Kohli's presence in this initial squad marked the beginning of a long-term association with an organization that would eventually become one of the league's most valuable brands.

Retention and Core Squad Status

While franchises were permitted to keep up to four players for a specific sum, Royal Challengers Bangalore chose to retain only Virat Kohli from their previous roster. This decision highlighted his status as a core asset amidst a major rebuild that included high-profile signings like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers. Although the team finished runners-up in the league final against Chennai Super Kings that year, Gayle was named Man of the Tournament. Kohli's continued presence through these auctions demonstrated stability within a squad that frequently cycled international talent while chasing playoff qualification in eleven out of nineteen seasons up to that point.

Leadership Transition and Brand Growth

This era followed previous tenures led by Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, both of whom had guided the team to semi-finals but not titles. Under this new direction, the club continued to compete for playoff spots while navigating changes in coaching staff and player acquisitions. The organization remained competitive throughout these years, maintaining a presence that contributed to its growing brand equity. This financial growth occurred alongside Kohli's long-standing tenure, reflecting how his leadership and on-field contributions helped elevate the profile of the Bengaluru-based team during a period of significant commercial expansion within the Twenty20 competition structure.

Ownership Evolution and Championship Legacy

The ownership structure of Kohli's franchise underwent massive transformation over the years, reflecting its increasing market dominance. This valuation represented the highest price paid for any franchise in IPL history at that time. These victories ended a long period where the side had finished as runners-up on three occasions previously. This trajectory from early struggles to record-breaking valuations and eventual championships defines the enduring impact of the organization Kohli helped build during its formative years.