Not Sachin Tendulkar!! Virat Kohli Reveals The Player Who Had The Most Impact On Him

Virat Kohli, the star Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter, has revealed the one player who had the most impact on him when he started his IPL career back in 2008. Notably, Kohli was picked by RCB in a U19 players’ draft in 2008, and since then, Kohli and RCB have become inseparable.

Virat Kohli, as of now, has played 262 IPL games for RCB and has scored 8447 runs. He averages 39.47 and has a strike rate of 132.31. He holds the record for most runs in IPL and most centuries in IPL as well, 8. He has hit 61 fifties, and his highest score is 113*.

Kohli also captained RCB from 2013-2021 and helped them reach the finals of the tournament in IPL 2016. It was the same season when Kohli hit 4 centuries and scored a record 973 runs in 16 games.

“Mark Boucher had the biggest impact on me”- Virat Kohli

During his early years in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Virat Kohli recalled the influence of legendary South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher, stating that his talks with the Protean icon "stunned" him.

A trailer for the next installment of the RCB Podcast, which was posted on the team's official X handle, featured the team's top run scorer in IPL history.

Talking about his chats with Boucher, who he acknowledged invited him to a few golf outings.

"Out of all players I played with initially, Boucher had the biggest impact on me. He figured out what my weaknesses could be. If I wanted to go to the next level, this is what I need to do, without me asking him anything. He told me that 'when I come to commentate in India three-four years from now and I do not see you playing for India, you would do a disservice to yourself. So he really stunned me with the conversations he had with me,” Kohli stated.

Here is the video:

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐭. 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢: 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐑 😇

Virat’s unquestionable bond with RCB, the journey through the ultimate highs and crushing lows of a cricketer’s life, insights into the mindset that’s kept him consistent at the highest level… pic.twitter.com/IyoNkhYC3k

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 2, 2025

When Virat was only starting to establish himself in international cricket and hadn't played Test cricket for India, Boucher played for RCB from 2008 to 2010. Boucher scored 388 runs with a half-century at an average of 29.85 in 27 games.

IPL hasn’t changed for me: Virat Kohli after retirement from T20Is

Virat also discussed his devotion to RCB, a team he has supported since the beginning of his IPL career, stating that his "relationship and mutual respect" with the team are more important.

"The love that I have received from the fans, I do not think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that," he added.

Virat added that since retiring from T20I, nothing in the IPL has changed for him.

"I do not think things have changed for me in any way. The decision (to leave T20Is) was taken purely understanding that there is a new set of players who are more than ready and they need time, they need a 2-year cycle to evolve, handle pressure, play in different parts of the world, and play enough games to the point where when the World Cup comes, they feel like they are ready," he concluded.

With 443 runs in 10 innings at an average of 63.28, a strike rate of nearly 139, six fifties, and the highest score of 73*, Virat is now ranked third among the highest-scoring players in the ongoing IPL.

Also Read: Vignesh Puthur Ruled Out Of IPL 2025 Due To Injury; MI Names Replacement