IPL throwback: Virat Kohli snapped up by RCB after being SNUBBED by a franchise in 2008

In last decade, Virat Kohli has established himself as one of best batsmen to have ever played gentlemen's game. Indian skipper seems almost inseparable from RCB team in IPL as he is about to lead m into ir 13th attempt at getting ir hands on an Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Things could have been very different though as it was only because of ar team letting go off an opportunity to snap Kohli that RCB team could get ir hands on n-20-year-old India U19 captain.

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IPL: RCB team's gain is Delhi Capitals' loss?

Ahead of inaugural edition of IPL in 2008, a draft was held for Indian Under-19 players along with second auction for formation of main teams. Indian Under-19 team had just won World Cup less than ten days ago under captaincy of Virat Kohli. newly-formed IPL franchises w had a chance to avail services of se players.

In draft system, each team is assigned a random spot through which y can make a pick from available pool of players. Delhi Capitals got first pick of Under-19 draft and chose to splurge ir cash on pacer Pradeep Sangwan. It was only because of this that Royal Challengers Bangalore could pick up Virat Kohli. It is interesting to reflect on how different things could have been had Capitals picked Kohli instead of Sangwan, who is where to be seen in cricket wadays.

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Virat Kohli stats

When you look at Pradeep Sangwan's IPL career, pacer could only take 35 wickets in 39 matches and has t played IPL since 2018 and Sangwan is yet to represent country at highest level. Meanwhile, Kohli's first two seasons in IPL were quiet but Delhi youngster picked up pace and broke through into Team India squad, while dominating IPL. Today, t only is Kohli one of best batsmen in world, 31-year-old is often touted as one who will break all of Sachin Tendulkar's imperious records.

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skipper of Indian team became RCB's full-time skipper in 2013 and is currently IPL's highest-ever run-scorer. He has had magical seasons like 2016 where he scored 973 runs in just 16 matches and hit four centuries. Kohli will continue to lead newly-rebranded RCB in IPL 2020.

RCB logo

RCB team came out with a new RCB logo on February 14 this year on occasion of Valentine's Day, that created a lot of buzz amongst its fans. While some were critical of RCB logo and RCB team's promotional strategies, ors like Virat Kohli were impressed and hoped that it can inspire team to a new beginning this decade.

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