IPL Retention 2025: Virat Kohli Salary in Each IPL Since 2008 as Batter Eyes 18 Crore Spot

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Virat Kohli has been one of the best players to grace the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has been a mainstay in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team since the 2008 edition.

The star batter has become synonymous with the RCB brand, leading the team as captain for eight seasons. Even though Kohli has failed to lift the IPL trophy yet, he is indisputably the batter in the league.

Virat Kohli’s Salary in IPL Since 2008

Also read: IPL Retention: MS Dhoni Salary in Each IPL Since 2008 While Hefty Paycut Looms

Kohli currently leads the all-time highest run-scorer list in IPL with 8004 runs to his name in 244 innings. This includes eight centuries and 55 half-centuries, along with a strike rate of more than 131.

His performances and talismanic presence have led to him becoming one of the most handsomely paid cricketers in IPL. Let’s have a look at the complete breakdown of Virat Kohli’s salary in each IPL season.

Virat Kohli was acquired by the RCB in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 from the U-19 Player Draft. The youngster had recently won the U19 World Cup as the team captain, finishing the tournament as the top scorer.

His fine performances prompted the Bengaluru-based team to purchase the prodigy for ₹12 lakh, which was his salary for the next three years. Considering the impact that he has had since, it can be considered one of the, if not the, best piece of business in IPL history.

After a shaky debut season, Kohli grew into the team and his increasing importance prompted RCB to retain him for ₹8.28 crore, preferring to build their entire team around their up-and-coming starlet.

Virat rose up to the task, delivering with the bat on a regular basis. His performances led to being named RCB’s skipper in the 2013 season, and he was retained the year after for ₹12.5 crore.

Despite the pay rise, Kohli’s performance did not suffer any dent. He had a record-breaking season in IPL 2016, scoring 973 runs, including four centuries. He even led RCB to the finals but suffered a heartbreaking loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kohli, who had now attained a talismanic level at RCB, was retained in 2018 for ₹17 crore, which made him the highest-paid player in the league. He continued to decimate opponents with the bat and even became RCB’s brand ambassador.

In the 2022 auction, as franchises reeled from the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown, Virat Kohli showed his love for RCB by taking a voluntary pay cut, reducing his salary to ₹15 crore. A reduced salary did not mean any reduction in his runs, though, as he finished last season with 741 runs.

In the IPL 2025 mega auction, it seems certain that Virat Kohli will be retained by RCB for the ₹18 crore slot, although his remuneration may be more based on the board’s decision. Irrespective of what he earns, Virat Kohli will surely lead his team from the number three spot.