IPL Auction: Virat Kohli recalls getting picked by RCB in 2008 - Couldn't believe the amount I got, it was crazy
India Today
Recalling the first-ever IPL draft in 2008, Virat Kohli said he was not able to believe the amount that he got when Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him. Kohli said he was in Malaysia, leading the U19 team at the World Cup when he got to know about the draft.
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said he very well remembers the Indian Premier League (IPL) draft process in 2008 wherein he was picked by the Bengaluru-based franchise, adding that he was not able to believe the amount he got picked for.
Virat Kohli said he was leading the U19 team in the World Cup in Malaysia when the draft process for the inaugural edition of the IPL took place. As per the IPL draft policy, every franchise had the option of picking two U-19 players and there was a salary cap set for them.
Virat Kohli was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a reported price of USD 30,000 (in 2008). However, Kohli revealed that he heard from people that Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) were also interested in going for the then India U19 captain. However, Delhi opted for Pradeep Sangwan, a left-arm pacer, to beef up their bowling unit and eventually Kohli ended up being at RCB.
"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.
"So that for us, I remember even that moment for us was so amazing. Because the amount that we got picked for when they announced it, we couldn't believe it because it was absolutely crazy," Kohli told popular presenter Danish Sait in a podcast for RCB.
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GETTING PICKED BY RCB AN IMPACTFUL MOMENT IN MY LIFE: KOHLI
