For the inaugural IPL season in 2008, 16 members of India’s victorious U-19 squad were picked based on a “draft” system. Each franchise had the option of selecting two U-19 players. All the players in the draft were set a salary cap of US $30,000. Delhi Daredevils, who got the first choice using a random numbering method, picked left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan over Virat Kohli, to strengthen their bowling unit.
In the RCB podcast, Kohli has opened up about the decision of Delhi Daredevils to not pick him in 2008. Kohli revealed that the Delhi Daredevils were interested in signing him, but because of their team composition, Delhi went for Sangwan.
“There was one conversation where I heard from people that the Delhi team was interested to go after me but the dynamic of their team was such that they went for Pradeep Sangwan, who was a left-arm seamer. An amazing bowler, at that time he was our best bowler in the U-19 team. So Delhi decided to go for him because they wanted the bowling strength”, said Kohli.
Kohli further stated that getting selected by RCB in the draft was one of the most defining moments of his career. He has stated several times in the past as well that he will only play for Bangalore in the IPL, demonstrating his loyalty towards the franchise.
“RCB picked me, that I think, in the hindsight, I feel like was such an impactful moment in my life that I didn’t realise at that time. But now when I look back, things would have been very different to what they are now.”, said Kohli.
It should be noted that since the start of the IPL in 2008, Virat Kohli is the only cricketer to have played for the same franchise.
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Couldn’t believe the amount we got – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli stated that all the U-19 players went insane after learning the amount for which they were signed by the franchises in the first-ever IPL draft in 2008.
“The amount that we got picked for when they announced it, we couldn’t believe it because it was absolutely crazy”, Kohli said on The RCB podcast.
