IPL Retention: A look at financial journey of RCB's Crown Jewel, Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has been the main pillar of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) since the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008. Over the years, he has evolved from a young talent to one of the greatest cricketers in the league's history by delivering consistent performances with the bat.

Be it record-breaking runs, clutch performances in crucial moments and commitment to the team, Kohli's dedication to RCB has been nothing short of a marvel. The veteran cricketer is the leading run-getter in the history of the IPL with 8004 runs at an average of 38.7, laced with 8 centuries and 55 fifties.

His most memorable season came in IPL 2016 when he recorded 973 runs, including four centuries and also led RCB to the final. The retention deadline is on October 31, 2024, which is at least a month ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction and retaining Kohli will be a no-brainer for the franchise.

Virat Kohli's IPL Salary over the seasons

Kohli’s IPL journey kick-started when the Bengaluru-based franchise picked him up for INR 12 lakh during the 2008 draft. Interestingly, the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) overlooked him and RCB seized the opportunity to sign the young U-19 World Cup-winning captain.

(2008-2010): INR 12 lakh per season

For the first three seasons, Kohli earned a modest INR 12 lakh per season. However, these early years laid the foundation for his illustrious career, as he quickly rose through the ranks and established himself as a promising young talent.

(2011-2013): INR 8.2 crore per season

As his performances for both RCB and India continued to improve, RCB showed its faith in him by retaining him ahead of the IPL 2011 mega-auction, with a significant salary increase to INR 8.2 crore per season.

By this time, the Delhi-born cricketer cemented his spot in the Indian team and earned a reputation as a dependable run-scorer across formats and the rest is history. His salary saw a huge jump in 2014 as the Bengaluru-based franchise extended his contract and augmented his pay to INR 12.5 crore per season.

(2014-2017): INR 12.5 crore per season

The IPL 2016 season turned out to be a high point for Virat Kohli as he scored a record-breaking 973 runs, including four centuries. Under his captaincy, RCB reached the finals but lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the showdown. Kohli drew plaudits for his impeccable batting performances.

(2018-2021): INR 17 crore per season

Ahead of the IPL 2018 mega auction, RCB took Kohli's salary to a whole new level by retaining him for a record-breaking INR 17 crore. This made him the highest-paid player in the history of the IPL at the time. From 2018 to 2021, he was not just as a run-scorer but also as a leader and a brand ambassador.

(2022-2024): INR 15 crore per season

Kohli decided to step down from the captaincy after the IPL 2021 season. However, RCB wasted no time in retaining him for INR 15 crore ahead of the 2022 mega auction. The franchise showed faith in the senior pro by retaining him for the next two seasons. The seasoned cricketer didn't disappoint as he continued to deliver match-winning performances.