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Another season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans are once again hoping for their team to secure their maiden IPL title. Central to those hopes is Virat Kohli, who has been retained by the franchise for a staggering ₹21 crores ahead of the upcoming season.
Kohli has been synonymous with RCB since the tournament's inception, serving as a prolific batter and the team’s captain from 2013 to 2021. In his illustrious IPL career, Kohli has made an indelible mark, amassing 8004 runs in 252 matches, making him the leading run-scorer in the tournament's history.
He boasts a remarkable average of 38.66 with a strike rate of 131.97, along with eight centuries, the most by any player in the IPL. His standout season came in 2016 when he smashed 973 runs in 16 games, including seven fifties and four centuries while leading RCB to the final.
Unfortunately, the team ended as runners-up. After winning the Orange Cap that season, he bagged his second Orange Cap in the last season, smashing 741 runs in 15 innings at an impressive average of 61.75 and a blistering strike rate of 154.69. His tally included five half-centuries and one century.
This season, Kohli’s salary has seen a significant hike of 40% compared to his previous contract, where he earned ₹15 crores. Kohli has been pivotal to Team India’s success in white-ball cricket in recent years.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, hosted at home, he was the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 765 runs and was named the Player of the Tournament, contributing significantly to India’s runner-up finish.
His consistency also earned him the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 title. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli faced a challenging run with the bat but rose to the occasion in the final against South Africa, delivering a match-winning 76-run knock. His heroics earned him the Player of the Match award, and India were crowned champions.
As IPL 2025 approaches, RCB fans will pin their hopes on Kohli delivering yet another stellar season. Then, it might just be the year RCB finally lifts the trophy, bringing joy to their ever-loyal fanbase.
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