Rohit Sharma targeted? Swastik Chikara reveals chat with Virat Kohli: 'As Impact player nahi, sher ki tarah khelunga'

The famous 20-year-old Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batsman Swastik Chikara has revealed his private chat with Virat Kohli, which he had during his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Swastik Chikara revealed that Virat Kohli clearly told him that he would never play as an 'impact player' in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and that he would continue playing like a lion.

Swastik Chikara gained fame during his RCB stint

Chikara, who was born on April 3, 2005, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, gained fame and popularity during his maiden stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025.

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He was bought by the IPL 2025 champions at the mega auction for INR 30 lakh, which was his base price. There were calls to include him in the playing XI during the season, but he was kept on the bench and was happy assisting his teammates whenever needed in drinks breaks.

Despite not playing any matches, he became insanely popular and gained a lot of attention mainly because of his visible admiration for Virat Kohli.

In the viral social media clips, he was mostly spotted around Kohli and was seen showing his excitement about being in the same camp as the India legend. His engaging personality saw his Instagram followers shoot up to 1 million in no time.

Meanwhile, in a recent interview with RevSportz journalist Rohit Juglan, he was asked whether Kohli was contemplating retirement during IPL 2025 because, midway through the tournament, he said goodbye to Test cricket.

"Mere hisab se kuch nahi soch rahe the aisa woh (Virat Kohli). (According to me, he (Virat Kohli) wasn’t thinking about anything like that)," Swastik Chikara said when asked if Virat Kohli was thinking about retirement during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

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Mai aise impact player me nahi khelunga - Virat Kohli to Swastik Chikara

Swastik Chikara revealed that during one of his interactions with Kohli, the legendary batsman told him that he will never play as an impact player in IPL and prefers to do fielding for 20 overs alongside batting. He said:

"Meri baat hui, aise hi baat kar rahe the hum, toh maine kaha bhaiya kaise kya, toh keh rahe ki 'mai cricket jab tak khelunga bhai, jab tak mai poora fit. Mai aise impact player me nahi khelunga. Mai aise sher ki tarah khelunga, poore 20 over fielding karunga, phir batting'.

("I spoke to him, we were just casually talking, so I asked, ‘Brother, how are things, what’s going on?’ He said, ‘I’ll play cricket as long as I’m completely fit. I won’t play as just an impact player. I’ll play like a lion — fielding all 20 overs, and then batting.’")

Sher ki tarah khelunga - Swastik Chikara reveals Kohli's words

Chikara further revealed that this conversation happened with Kohli during a gym session, where the former RCB skipper made it clear that he will play like a lion, and when he is unable to field for 20 overs, he will retire. Swastik Chikara said:

"'Sher ki tarah khelunga, mai aise impact me nahi, bas batting, batting, karu aur bahar baithu'. Keh rahe aise nahi, 'us din backpack ghar rakh dunga'. Unhone saaf bola hai.

("He said clearly: ‘I will play like a lion. I won’t just play as an impact substitute where I only bat and then sit outside. If that day comes, I’ll hang up my backpack at home.’ He has said this very clearly.")

"Gym me the, gym kar rahe the, toh waha pe unhone bola tha ki 'bhai mai cricket jab tak khelunga, jab tak mai fit hoon aur mai 20 overs fielding kar sakta hoon poore efforts se aur batting karu. Mai impact me nahi khelunga mai sher ki tarah khelunga.'"

("We were in the gym, working out, when he told me: ‘Brother, I’ll keep playing cricket as long as I am fully fit, as long as I can give 100% effort in fielding for 20 overs and then go out to bat. I won’t play only as an impact substitute; I will play like a lion.’")

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"Virat Kohli broke the ice in the very first meeting, he is like my elder brother now. To see him achieve his 18-year long dream in IPL was surely" -

RCB's Swastik Chikara, currently playing in UP T20 League, opens up on RCB's IPL triumph, relationship with Kohli… pic.twitter.com/VQLfxiJIvh

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 22, 2025

Kohli played a key role in the maiden title victory of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. In 15 matches, he scored 657 runs at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71.