Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at why the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) famously overlooked Virat Kohli during the inaugural IPL auction in 2008. At the time, Kohli had just led the Indian Under-19 team to a World Cup victory, making him a hot prospect. However, Sehwag explained that Delhi’s squad was already heavily congested with top-order batters, including himself, Gautam Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan, Tilakaratne Dilshan, and Manoj Tiwary, leaving no viable slot for another specialist top-order batsman.
Instead of securing the future Indian legend, Delhi opted for left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan to bolster their bowling department. Sehwag noted that while their batting lineup was powerhouse-heavy, the team management felt a greater need for a quality bowler. This strategic decision allowed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to pick up Kohli for a modest sum of ₹12 lakhs. In retrospect, while Sangwan had a decent career, Kohli went on to become the backbone of RCB and the most successful run-getter in the history of the tournament.
Nearly two decades later, Kohli remains the only player to have played for the same franchise for 19 consecutive years. His stats are staggering, with 8,889 runs in 272 matches, including 8 centuries. As of the current 2026 IPL season, Kohli continues his dominance, leading the Orange Cap race with 228 runs in just five matches. Fans often speculate that had Delhi chosen the “local boy” back in 2008, the franchise’s history—which has yet to yield a title—might have been written very differently.
