IPL 2024: WATCH – “Insisted that I should be played,” Kohli recalls how Raina’s recommendation helped him in early days

Virat Kohli shared a moment of camaraderie with Suresh Raina ahead of RCB vs CSK clash.

Ahead of RCB’s crucial IPL 2024 match against CSK o Saturday (May 18), Virat Kohli shared a moment of camaraderie with Suresh Raina, recalling how the latter played a pivotal role in his early career.

Speaking on JioCinema, Kohli highlighted Raina's intervention in providing him an opportunity to showcase his talent during the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia way back in 2008.

Initially, Kohli was not preferred in the playing XI, a decision made by then-coach Pravin Amre. However, Raina observed Kohli from close quarters in the nets and pushed for his selection.

"I think it was 2008. It was an Indian match. We were playing in the Emerging Players tournament in Australia in 2008. The significance of the Emerging Players tournament at that time was that the best cricketers who were on the verge of playing for their country would come to play there, and it was a very important tournament for us. So I still remember that Raina might have heard about me. He came mid-tournament. Initially, S Badrinath was the captain, but when Raina arrived, he took over the captaincy. Pravin Amre was our coach, and he had kept me out of the playing eleven,” Kohli said.

"So Raina saw me playing in the nets and asked Amre sir why I wasn't playing. I used to bat in the middle order, while Ajinkya Rahane opened. Amre sir said there wasn't a spot available in the team. Then Raina insisted that I should be played, so Pravin sir called me and asked if I would open," he added.

"I said I would do anything (bat anywhere), just give me a chance to play. So I opened against New Zealand. Dilip Vengsarkar sir was the selector at that time. I scored 120 not out, and he probably decided then and there that I should be given further opportunities," he further remarked.

Talking about Virat Kohli, he is leading the chart of top run-scorers in the ongoing IPL. The RCB star has amassed 708 runs in 14 innings at an average of 64.36 and a strike rate of 155.60, including one hundred and five half-centuries.

On Saturday, Kohli once again looked in his element as he scored 47 off 29 balls to lay the foundation of RCB’s 27-run victory over CSK in a battle for the final IPL 2024 playoffs spot.