3 players backed by Virat Kohli during his RCB captaincy

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB head into the season with renewed confidence after ending their 17-year title drought in 2025 under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.

While Patidar led them to glory, the legacy of Virat Kohli as captain remains deeply influential. Having captained the franchise for several years, Kohli may not have lifted the trophy during his tenure, but his impact on the team’s culture and player development is undeniable. He remains the leading run-scorer in IPL history, with over 8600 runs, and has played a crucial role in nurturing talent that has gone on to excel at the international level.

Here are three players backed by Virat Kohli as RCB captain in IPL:

Devdutt Padikkal

Devdutt Padikkal burst onto the scene in 2020 as a 20-year-old prodigy after a stellar domestic season, where he topped the run charts in white-ball tournaments. He carried that form into the IPL, winning the Emerging Player award in his debut season with 473 runs. Padikkal followed it up with another impressive campaign, including a magnificent unbeaten 101 off 52 balls against the Rajasthan Royals.

Under Kohli’s guidance, Padikkal developed into a technically sound and versatile batter, earning opportunities with the Indian national team in both Tests and T20Is. After a few seasons away, he returned to RCB in 2025, scoring 247 runs in 10 matches. His recent numbers are brilliant in domestic units, but his early seasons remain a testament to the potential Kohli helped unlock.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is arguably one of the biggest success stories under Kohli’s captaincy. The leg-spinner evolved into one of the most consistent wicket-takers in IPL history, currently holding the record as the league’s leading wicket-taker with 221 wickets in 174 matches.

During his time with RCB, Chahal was a key figure in the bowling attack, particularly in challenging conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He picked up 20 or more wickets in five different seasons and became RCB’s highest wicket-taker, with 113 wickets across eight seasons. His performances under Kohli also paved the way for his international debut in 2015. Since then, Chahal has represented India in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, taking a combined 217 wickets and establishing himself as a match-winner in limited-overs cricket.

Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj’s journey with RCB is a story of persistence and belief. Initially inconsistent and often expensive, Siraj struggled to find his rhythm in the early years. However, Kohli’s unwavering backing played a significant role in his transformation. Over time, Siraj developed into RCB’s go-to bowler in the powerplay. His standout IPL season came in 2023, when he claimed 19 wickets in 14 matches, followed by another solid performance in 2024 with 15 wickets. Across his IPL career, he has taken 109 wickets in 108 matches.

Siraj’s growth at RCB translated into success at the international level as well. He has become a key figure in India’s bowling attack across formats, particularly in Test cricket, where he has emerged as one of the leading pacers alongside Jasprit Bumrah. His contributions have been vital in several memorable matches, including India’s hard-fought Test series against England.