Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore are practically synonymous when it comes to the Indian Premier League. The star India batsman has played for the franchise since the inception of the tournament in 2008 and he has emerged as a mega star for RCB fans. In a recent conversation with former India cricketer Robin Uthappa on JioCinema, Kohli talked about his partnership with RCB over the years and even talked about another franchise getting his services. was close to doing. However, the former India captain was quick to point out that his career plans were not in line with that of the team.
“It’s been amazing. Why I value this partnership and journey with RCB so much is because in the first 3 years of IPL, they supported me a lot. Even when retention happened they said, ‘we will give you Want to retain. My only response to Ray Jennings at that point was ‘I want to bat at the top of the order. I bat at 3 for India, and I want to bat at 3. And he said, ‘Okay, you at 3′ Batti karoge’. He showed faith in me at a time when I needed it. I was also growing in my international career,” Kohli said.
Kohli also said that he had a clear answer when the franchise came for him.
“It’s worth more to me. I won’t name anyone but another franchise I spoke to at that time..they weren’t even keen to listen to me. I was batting lower down the order at that time (5-6) I was like, ‘If I can get an opportunity to bat at the top of the order somewhere else…’ Same franchise, because I played for India and performed in 2011, before the retirement, I had came over and said, ‘Can you please come to the auction?’ I said, ‘Not a chance. I will always be with a franchise that backs me.
Uthappa was taken aback by the response but Kohli said the answer was straightforward.
“Yes it was. And he denied it straight away. Fair enough as I was.”