“He Really Stunned Me”: Virat Kohli Reveals The Player Name Who Had “Biggest Impact” On Him During Early IPL years

May 2, 2025: Star India and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli has credited former South African cricketer Mark Boucher with playing a pivotal role in shaping his mindset during his early IPL years.

Speaking in a trailer for the upcoming episode of the RCB Podcast, Kohli recalled how deeply Boucher’s words impacted him—at a time when he was still establishing himself in international cricket.

“Out of all players I played with initially, Boucher had the biggest impact on me,” Kohli said. “He figured out what my weaknesses could be… He told me, ‘If I come to India to commentate three-four years from now and don’t see you playing for India, you’d be doing a disservice to yourself.’ That really stunned me.”

Boucher, who represented RCB between 2008 and 2010, played 27 matches, scoring 388 runs. During that same period, a young Kohli was finding his feet in professional cricket, still years away from making his Test debut. Boucher’s encouragement came unsolicited, highlighting the trust and belief he saw in Kohli’s potential.

Kohli also reflected on his unmatched loyalty to RCB—a franchise he has remained with since the IPL’s inception in 2008.

“The relationship and mutual respect I have with the franchise is more valuable than anything. The love I’ve received from fans, I don’t think any silverware or trophy can come close to that,” he added.

Touching upon his recent retirement from T20 internationals, Kohli stated that stepping away hasn’t changed his IPL mindset. Instead, he viewed it as a decision to allow younger players space to grow in a new T20 cycle.

“There’s a new set of players who are ready… they need time to evolve, handle pressure, and get game time before a World Cup,” he explained.

Kohli is currently among the top scorers in IPL 2025, with 443 runs in 10 innings at an average of 63.28, including six half-centuries. His best score so far is 73*, and he boasts a strike rate close to 139. RCB, sitting second on the points table, will face arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at home this Saturday in a high-stakes clash.