Virender Sehwag drops big reveal on Delhi Daredevils' Virat Kohli snub: 'We didn't even have space to bring him'

Virender Sehwag, who was Delhi's skipper in their first season, revisited early team balance, explaining why a young Virat Kohli wasn’t picked in 2008.

Updated on: Apr 16, 2026, 16:56:14 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Virat Kohli's joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2008 quietly reshaped both the franchise and the league. Nearly two decades on, he remains the only player to have represented a single team throughout the tournament’s history, standing by RCB through lean patches before finally celebrating a long-awaited title last season. What makes that story more striking is what happened at the start. Fresh from leading India to the U19 World Cup, Kohli entered the uncapped draft, where his domestic home side franchise Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), had the first pick. They opted for left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan instead.

Delhi Daredevils passed on the opportunity to sign Virat Kohli in IPL 2008. (AFP)

At the time, the call barely raised eyebrows. Kohli was promising, but not yet the force he would become. With hindsight, though, it stands out as one of the league’s biggest what-ifs. As Kohli grew into a run-machine and the face of modern Indian cricket, Delhi’s decision has often been revisited as a rare misstep that altered IPL history.

Virender Sehwag, who was Delhi's skipper in their first season, revisited early team balance, explaining why a young Kohli wasn’t picked in 2008. With an overloaded top order with the likes of Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Tilakratne Dilshan and Shikhar Dhawan, the side prioritised a bowling option, a call that continues to spark debate years later.

"So at Delhi Daredevils back in 2008, the inaugural IPL season, I remember Shikhar Dhawan was also in our team along with Tilakratne Dilshan. Both of them were openers, but we used to make them bat at three and five because Gautam and I used to open the innings. Manoj Tiwary had taken the number four spot. So we had a lot of top-order batters in the team, and it was becoming difficult to fit all of them in the batting order. At that time, Virat Kohli was also batting at number three or four. So we didn't even have space to bring him in. We lacked a bowler, so we decided to go with Pradeep Sangwan instead of Kohli," Sehwag said on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary'.

Also Read - ‘I’ll quit cricket’: Virat Kohli forced to eat his words after playing as Impact Player for RCB against LSG

Virat Kohli leading Orange Cap race

Even in his 19th IPL season, Kohli is still going strong and is currently leading the Orange Cap race with 228 runs in 5 matches at an impressive strike rate of 158.33, as his runs at the top have been crucial for RCB in their title defence, which they have begun strongly with four wins in five matches.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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