Franchise Career

Start with RCB (2007)

In 2007, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched the Indian Premier League (IPL), a franchise-based T20 league. Among the franchises, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), owned by Vijay Mallya, selected Kohli for $50,000 through a draft. This decision was influenced by his performance in the Under-19 World Cup held in Malaysia, which India won under his captaincy.

First Seasons (2008–2012)

In the inaugural season, Kohli scored a total of 165 runs, and RCB finished seventh on the points table. In the following season, the team reached the playoffs. In the semifinal against Chennai Super Kings, Kohli helped RCB reach the final. However, RCB narrowly lost the final to Deccan Chargers by just 8 runs and ended the season as runners-up.

In the 2010 season, Kohli served as vice-captain. He delivered a standout performance against Deccan Chargers, scoring 58 runs at a strike rate of 165. RCB reached the playoffs but were defeated by Mumbai Indians by 35 runs in the semifinal. In the Champions League T20, Kohli scored an unbeaten 49 against the Lions, taking his team to the semifinals, where they lost to Chennai Super Kings by 52 runs, ending their tournament journey.

Ahead of the 2011 IPL, Kohli was the only player retained by Bangalore for $1.8 million. He scored 56 runs against Delhi Daredevils and was named Player of the Match for the first time in the tournament. Against Pune Warriors, he won his second Player of the Match award and became the season’s top run-scorer, donning the Orange Cap and also crossing 1,000 IPL runs.

When captain Daniel Vettori was injured, Kohli led the team for the first time. RCB finished the league stage at the top of the points table. They reached the final but fell short of victory. That season, Kohli scored 557 runs with four half-centuries, becoming the second-highest run-scorer after Chris Gayle.

In the Champions League, Kohli played several crucial innings, helping the team reach the final, where they lost to Mumbai Indians by 31 runs.

Midway through the 2012 season, Daniel Vettori stepped down from captaincy, and Kohli was handed over the responsibility for the remaining matches. In a crucial match, Kohli contributed to the chase but his dismissal led to a collapse in the batting order, resulting in defeat.

Rise in Leadership and Form (2013–2016)

After Vettori's retirement, Kohli took over as the full-time captain of RCB starting from the 2013 season. At the beginning of the season, RCB topped the points table, but the team’s performance declined in the latter half of the tournament.

The 2014 season was mixed, as the team faced several challenges. However, Kohli's popularity continued to soar, making him the most searched cricketer on the internet during the tournament. In the 2015 season, significant changes were made to the team, which helped them reach the playoffs, although they lost in the second qualifier. Throughout the season, Kohli scored 505 runs in 16 matches — his third-highest total in a single IPL season.

In the 2016 season, Kohli scored 50 or more in three out of the first four matches and formed three century partnerships with AB de Villiers. His match-winning performances and technical brilliance received widespread praise. In the final, RCB lost by 8 runs. Kohli finished as the tournament's highest run-scorer, amassing 973 runs at an average of 81.08 in 16 matches, earning both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award.

Fluctuating Form and Stepping Down from Captaincy (2017–2022)

In the 2017 season, Kohli struggled with a shoulder injury, which kept him out of the first three matches of the tournament. The team had a poor campaign overall, and he scored a total of 308 runs in 10 innings.

In the 2018 season, RCB retained Kohli for ₹17 crore (US$2.0 million), making him the most expensive player in the league at the time. He crossed 500 runs for the season, achieving this milestone for a record fifth time. However, RCB was eliminated due to a weak bowling attack. In the 2019 season, Kohli’s form declined as he struggled for consistency. RCB, heavily reliant on him, once again failed to make it to the playoffs.

In the 2020 season, RCB won five out of their first eight matches but faltered in the latter stages. They qualified for the playoffs based on their net run rate but couldn’t reach the final. In the 2021 season, the team again qualified for the playoffs but lost in the Eliminator. Kohli officially announced that he would step down from RCB’s captaincy after the season.

In the 2022 season, Kohli was retained for ₹15 crore (US$1.8 million). Faf du Plessis took over the captaincy, and the team once again reached the playoffs but lost in both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2.

Milestone Highlights (2023–Present)

In the 2023 season, in the absence of Du Plessis, Kohli took on the role of a stand-in captain. His performance made him the record-holder for the most centuries in the league. RCB was eventually eliminated, but Kohli ended the season with 639 runs at an average of 53.2 and a strike rate of 140.

In the 2024 season, RCB went through a losing streak of six games but made a brilliant and iconic comeback by winning six consecutive matches in the second half of the season. This turnaround was referred to as a blueprint by Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming, Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori, and player Nitish Kumar Reddy, with hopes that their teams would replicate it in the 2025 season. Kohli crossed the 8000-run mark and won his second Orange Cap by becoming the highest run-scorer with 741 runs.

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