‘We got ₹20 lakhs!’: Virat Kohli recalls his IPL beginnings, RCB vs CSK rivalry | Ipl News
Before the roaring crowds, the century celebrations, and the iconic No. 18 jersey, Virat Kohli was just a teenager losing his mind in a hotel corridor. As the IPL is in its 18th year, Kohli looked back at the surreal beginning of his journey in the league, marked by one unforgettable number: Rs 20 lakhs.
“When the auction happened, we were in Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, and we were sold as first-class cricketers, who were limited to Rs 20 lakhs. We went crazy in the corridor — ‘We got Rs 20 lakhs!’ That was the emotion behind it. Because we didn’t know what to expect—the opening ceremony, the whole experience of meeting great cricketers — it was surreal.”
Kohli was part of that very first IPL auction in 2008, still fresh off captaining India to a U-19 World Cup title. Now, he stands as the league’s most consistent performer and its most enduring face.
“The first year was exciting in terms of unexpected things happening. We hadn’t played a lot of T20 cricket. Secondly, franchise cricket allowed us to play with different players from all over the world, players we looked up to.”
Reflecting on how far the league has come, Kohli admits even he couldn’t have imagined its meteoric rise.
“It’s been a long journey, one that we have seen grow, evolve, and become this amazing spectacle. Honestly, when IPL started, I never thought it could reach a stage like this. But 18 years and rolling, and every year you feel the same excitement, if not more, which is a massive credit to the league, the way it’s organized, the teams, the competitiveness, and the professionalism is top-notch.”
Among all the experiences he’s had, one rivalry stands out. That’s the RCB vs CSK match, especially when the action unfolds at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
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“I would say one team that, historically, I’ve felt we’ve had the most intense games with is Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru. Because in Chennai, of course, there are Chennai fans — it’s just yellow and CSK fans everywhere. But to play against CSK in Bengaluru is something else, because a lot of Chennai fans come to Bengaluru. CSK fans travel in huge numbers, so they buy tickets very early and take over a section of the stadium.
“So, there’s an intense atmosphere inside the stadium in Bengaluru when playing against CSK. And then, obviously, the game also gets very intense and competitive. That environment is the most exciting I’ve been a part of.”
