Virat Kohli IPL Career, Records & Stats

 Virat Kohli has been playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the inaugural season in 2008.

After he powered India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured his services in the first edition. The batting superstar has been plying his trade for the franchise since then.

He holds the record for playing for the same franchise for the longest time in IPL. Kohli has never shied away from expressing his gratitude to the franchise for picking him as a rookie in 2008.

"We were all in Malaysia for the U-19 World Cup. I remember the day when the drafts were happening. The U-19 dynamic was a little different, because we very rightly so had a money cap, if I could say. That was the only time where I saw a restriction on how much you can be picked for if you haven't played for India," Kohli had said in 2023.

"RCB picked me, that I think, in hindsight, I feel like was such an impactful moment in my life that I didn't realize at that time. But now when I look back, things would have been very different to what they are now. I do not want to have it any other way than this."

Virat Kohli's IPL journey:

Virat Kohli's IPL career began in 2008. Virat Kohli's first IPL team is Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He did not take long to become an integral member of the side.

In the first two seasons, Virat Kohli's IPL runs were 165 and 246 runs. In 2010, he finally breached the 300-run mark and has not looked back since then. Kohli has not scored less than 300 runs in a season since 2010.

His meteoric rise in IPL as well as in international cricket helped him become the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2013. In 2016, he led RCB to the IPL final for the third time. Kohli had enjoyed an extraordinary campaign with the bat in 2016. He had scored a staggering 973 runs with the help of a record four centuries. 

After the 2016 season, RCB's performance dipped and Kohli eventually stepped down as the captain after the 2021 season.

Virat Kohli runs in IPL season-wise:

Virat Kohli has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the IPL for over a decade now. At present, no player has scored more runs or centuries in the IPL. He is the only batsman to touch the 7000-run mark in IPL so far.

At present, the total Virat Kohli IPL runs stands at a staggering 8004 runs in 252 matches with the help of eight centuries and 55 half-centuries. Virat Kohli's highest IPL score is 113.

Virat Kohli is also a handy medium-pacer. While he hardly bowls now, he used to bowl regularly in the early years of his career.

Virat Kohli IPL captaincy record:

While Virat Kohli has enjoyed unprecedented success with the bat in IPL, he failed to make a big impact as a captain. Kohli led RCB from 2013 to 2021 and could not guide the team to its first-ever IPL title.

Under his captaincy, RCB's best performance came in 2016 when they qualified for the final but ended up losing the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Overall, RCB made it to the playoffs three times and the final once under Kohli's captaincy from 2013 to 2021.

RCB's performance under Virat Kohli's captaincy:

Kohli led RCB in 140 games. Of the 140 games, RCB won 66 and lost 70 while four games ended without yielding any result. Kohli has a win percentage of 48.52 as RCB captain.

Virat Kohli stats as RCB captain:

Virat Kohli IPL salary and auction price:

Virat Kohli has been playing for RCB since 2008. Over the years, his salary has witnessed a meteoric rise. His journey started with Rs 12 lakh before it touched the Rs 17 crore mark in 2018. At present, he earns Rs 15 crore per season from RCB. Here is a list showing Virat Kohli's IPL salary over the years.