NEW DELHI:
Virat Kohli
and
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
are synonymous to each other in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Virat
has played for RCB since IPL's inaugural season in 2008 and stuck to it.
IPL ORANGE CAP | IPL PURPLE CAP | IPL POINTS TABLE
Virat has been the captain of RCB for several seasons, bringing his aggressive and passionate style of leadership to the team. Under his captaincy, RCB has seen both highs and lows, including reaching the IPL finals in 2016.
But
Kohli
has stuck with the team even though RCB still haven't won the IPL trophy.
In a viral video, Kohli explains in a podcast what RCB means to him and why he has not joined any other team.
The host asks, "Virat I know you love RCB just as much as RCB loves you. Even for a moment, for a second, while playing this IPL, have you ever wondered is the grass greener on the other side?"
Virat answers, "To be very honest I have thought about it, yes I won't shy away from it and I've been approached many times as well to come into the auction somehow, put my name in there and stuff. And then I thought about it I was like at the end of the day everyone has X number of years they live right and then you die and then life moves on. And there would have been many great people who want trophies and this that blah blah blah but no one addresses you in the room like "Oh he's an IPL champion" or "he's a World Cup champion".
"And it's like if you're a good person, people like you and if you're a bad guy, they stay away from you and eventually that's what life is all about so for me the understanding that the loyalty with RCB is like how I follow my life is far greater for me than the fact that yes five people in the room would say, "Oh finally you've won the IPL with whoever XYZ and yeah you feel good for five minutes but then the sixth minute you could be miserable with some other issue in life, so it is not the end of the world for me," Kohli adds.
Kohli goes on to say, "What this franchise (RCB) has given me in terms of opportunity in the first three years and believed in me, that is the most special thing because as I said there were many teams who had the opportunity but they didn't back me, they didn't believe in me so now when I'm successful and I should fall to the opinion of people saying "but the IPL". This was the case with me till 2018 England tour happened. For four years of my life I was doing well everywhere in the world, the only thing was but "England". So there's always going to be buts, you literally can't live your life like that and I just carry on my own thing and I actually honestly don't even bother about a third person beyond myself,
Anushka
discussing things and just being true to ourselves. And that's it for me, nothing else and no one else's opinion matters at all."
Overall, Virat Kohli's journey with RCB has been marked by exceptional batting displays, leadership challenges, and a strong connection with the team's fan base, making him a central figure in the franchise's history.
Despite Kohli's individual brilliance, RCB has often struggled to clinch the IPL title. They have reached the playoffs on multiple occasions but have faced challenges in converting those opportunities into championships.
Unlike many other players who have switched teams over the years, Kohli has remained loyal to RCB throughout his IPL career. His commitment to the franchise has made him a beloved figure among RCB fans.
Kohli's personal achievements, including multiple centuries and accolades like the
Orange Cap
, highlight his impact on the team.
English (US) ·