Virat Kohli's IPL Journey: A Missed Opportunity for Delhi Capitals

Virat Kohli's journey in the IPL is a tale of missed opportunities and remarkable success. Initially overlooked by Delhi Capitals, Kohli went on to become a pivotal player for Royal Challengers Bangalore. This article delves into the reasons behind Delhi's decision and highlights Kohli's significant contributions to RCB, including his leadership and impact on the team's brand value. Discover how a decision made 18 years ago shaped the future of one of cricket's biggest stars.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 16, 2026, 23:24 IST

Virat Kohli's Early Days in IPL

Virat Kohli: The Indian Premier League (IPL) commenced in 2008, marking nearly 19 years since its inception. Prior to the IPL 2008, Virat Kohli had already led the Indian team to victory in the Under-19 World Cup. However, his home team, Delhi Capitals, did not select him for their squad.

Being a resident of Delhi, Kohli was expected to be picked by the Delhi franchise, similar to his contemporaries like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Yet, he was overlooked. Now, 18 years later, during a discussion on ‘Champions Commentary’ on JioHotstar, expert Virender Sehwag revealed why Delhi Daredevils opted for fast bowler Pradeep Sangwan instead of Kohli in the inaugural IPL season.

Reasons Behind Delhi's Decision

Sehwag recounted the decision made 18 years ago, stating, “I remember during IPL 2008, our team included Tilakaratne Dilshan and Shikhar Dhawan as openers. We often had them batting at the third and fifth positions because Gautam and I opened the innings. Manoj Tiwary batted at number four. ये खबर आप गज़ब वायरल में पढ़ रहे हैं। Our lineup was filled with top-order batsmen, making it challenging to fit everyone into the batting order. At that time, Kohli was also batting at the third or fourth position. Hence, we didn’t have the space to accommodate him. We needed a bowler, which led us to choose Pradeep Sangwan over Kohli.”

Kohli's Impact at RCB

The oversight by Delhi Daredevils turned out to be a significant advantage for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). RCB decided to recruit Virat Kohli, who had just captained India to an Under-19 World Cup victory. Eventually, Kohli also took on the captaincy role at RCB.

Since 2008, Kohli has been an integral part of RCB, and last year, he helped the team clinch the IPL trophy. His presence has significantly enhanced RCB's brand value, making it stand out among other franchises. Given his current fitness levels, Kohli is expected to don the RCB jersey until IPL 2028.