Virat Kohli, the famous batter of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), shared how Mark Boucher, the former South African wicketkeeper, inspired him in his formative years during Indian Premier League (IPL). He has mentioned in the preview of a forthcoming episode of the RCB Podcast that was shared on the team’s official X account how Boucher’s conversations with him could make such an impression. Boucher played for RCB from 2008 to 2010, and that was the time when Virat was making an identity for him internationally, not yet debuted in Tests for India. Boucher holds the record of scoring 388 runs in 27 matches with an average of 29.85.

Virat further spoke about loyalty to the franchise, the only side he has known since embarking on his IPL journey. According to him, what mattered more than any trophy was the bond and respect he shared with the franchise. “The love that I have received from the fans, I do not think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that,” he shared.

He maintained that it did not have any bearing regarding his feelings for IPL, even after his announcement about retirement from T20Is. It was about grooming some young blood, especially with the upcoming World Cup, regarding not playing, he reasoned.