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Bengaluru, April 09, 2025: In a candid conversation on ‘18 Calling 18’ – streaming exclusively on JioHotstar – Virat Kohli opened up about the highs and lows of his journey in the TATA IPL. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend reflected on his early struggles, game-changing moments, and how the TATA IPL has shaped him as a player over the years.
Speaking exclusively on ‘18 Calling 18’ on JioHotstar, Virat Kohli spoke about his debut season of TATA IPL. He recalled the awe and pressure of sharing the dressing room with some of India’s greatest cricketers: “The first time I played in IPL, I was in complete awe. I hadn’t really met anyone before—except maybe Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh from our North Zone days—so walking into a dressing room with legends like Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid felt like fantasy land. But with that excitement came pressure. I knew my game wasn’t quite at that level yet, and I had to prove myself. That pressure eventually caught up with me in the first season. Still, the experience was unforgettable.”
Reflecting on his initial years with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli spoke about how his career trajectory shifted once he found consistency and a fixed position in the batting order: “In my first three years with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, I didn’t get many opportunities to bat in the top order. I was usually sent in lower down. So, I wasn’t really able to crack the IPL in a big way early on, apart from the occasional impactful knock. But the 2009 season felt a bit better for me. The pitches that year suited my game—the ball was coming onto the bat nicely, and I could play my shots more freely. It was definitely an interesting phase in my career. From 2010 onwards, I started performing more consistently, and by 2011, I was regularly batting at number three. That’s when my IPL journey really began to take shape.”
The ‘Gen Gold’ star also discussed his mindset, explaining how his on-field decisions were always guided by the match situation, not personal ambition: “If you look at how things panned out even recently, in one of the Champions Trophy games, Shreyas (Iyer) took charge. It was never about ego. At that time, if I was in rhythm, in the flow of the game, I naturally took the initiative. If someone else was better placed to take the lead, they would do it. It was never about trying to overshadow anyone or suddenly feeling like I don’t have the ability. It’s always been about understanding the game situation—and that’s something I’ve always taken pride in. I want to play according to what the situation demands.”
Kohli also emphasized how the TATA IPL’s format and dynamic structure has influenced his T20 game: “IPL challenges you in a very unique way because of how the tournament is structured. It’s not like a short bilateral series, it spans several weeks, and your position on the points table keeps shifting. That constantly changing scenario brings different kinds of pressure. When you are at the top, there’s the pressure to maintain that lead. If you’re near the bottom, you need extra motivation to bounce back. And if you’re somewhere in the middle, where you need to win, say, three out of five games, even a single loss can suddenly add a lot of pressure. This dynamic nature of the tournament pushes you mentally and competitively in various ways other formats don’t. It’s also driven me to constantly improve and evolve my T20 skill set.”
Catch the action as Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Delhi Capitals on April 10 at 7:30 PM, and don’t miss the electrifying TATA IPL Rivalry Week, April 7-13, live and exclusive on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network
