Star Indian batter and former skipper Virat Kohli is celebrating his 15th anniversary with Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday (March 11). The 34-year-old was signed by the Bengaluru-based side ahead of the start of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, and since then he has been associated with them only. Virat is the only cricketer in the history of the cash-rich league who has appeared in all 15 editions of the league for the same team.
Virat, who had led India to the U-19 World Cup win earlier that year, was signed on Day 2 of the first ever player auction under the Under-19 player draft system. He had a forgetful first season with the franchise, where he was only able to score 165 runs in 13 matches, but he was backed by the franchise despite that, and because of that, in the coming years, he was able to deliver many match-winning performances for the popular franchise.
On the 15th anniversary of Virat’s association with the franchise, RCB shared a heartwarming post from its official Twitter handle. It shared Virat’s two pictures—one from the 2008 edition and one from the latest photoshoot—and captioned them, “15 years of the King in RCB colours. #OnThisDay in 2008, we signed Virat on Day 2 of the #IPLAuction in the Under-19 player draft system. For everything you have done and continue to do for us, #ThankYouKing #PlayBold @imVkohli.”
During his 15-year career with the RCB to date, Virat has played a total of 223 matches, in which he has scored 6624 runs. He is the highest run scorer in the history of the IPL, and as a captain, he led the side to the IPL final in 2016, but he has never managed to win the title.
Virat stepped down from the role of RCB captain after the conclusion of the 2021 edition of the IPL and now plays as an opening batter.
