The star Indian batter Virat Kohli has been the batting pillar for Royal Challengers Bangalore, if not just the brand face. From starting as a rookie Delhi U-19 captain to leading the franchise and then finally becoming the biggest face of the team, Kohli has come a long way.
Notably, Virat Kohli is currently the only third player who has played all 18 seasons of the Indian Premier League. His salary per season has seen a rise from INR 12 lakh per season to INR 21 crore as a retained marquee player.
From 2008 to 2010, he was paid INR 12 lakh for each season. From 2011 to 2013, he saw a significant rise to Rupees 8.28 crore per season, with it rising to Rupees 12.5 crore from 2014 to INR 17 crores from 2017 to 2021. However, in 2022 to 2024, his salary decreased to INR 15 crore. Later, in 2025, he was retained with the highest paycheck of INR 21 crores.
Virat Kohli's salary evolution in RCB since 2008
| Season | Amount |
| 2008-2010 | ₹12 lakh per season |
| 2011-2013 | ₹8.28 crore per season |
| 2014-2017 | ₹12.5 crore per season |
| 2018-2021 | ₹17 crore per season |
| 2022-2024 | ₹15 crore per season |
| 2025 | ₹21 crore |
Thus, since joining the IPL in 2008 for ₹12 lakh, Virat Kohli has seen his salary rise to ₹21 crore per season, accumulating around ₹230 crore in total IPL earnings over the years.
Virat Kohli's contributions in RCB
Virat Kohli remains the most iconic figure of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, having represented the franchise in every season since the IPL began in 2008. By March 2026, he had played 267 matches and scored a record 8,661 runs, making him the league’s all-time leading run-scorer.
His legendary 2016 season stands out, when he smashed 973 runs with four centuries, still the most runs in a single IPL edition. It was the season where he almost single-handedly took the team to the final.
Kohli captained RCB from 2013 to 2021 before stepping down, though he continues as a senior leader in the squad. After years of near misses, he finally lifted his maiden IPL trophy in 2025, playing a key role with 657 runs during the title-winning campaign.