NewKerala.com

Sehwag Reveals Why Delhi Picked Sangwan Over Kohli in IPL 2008

Virender Sehwag has revealed that the Delhi Daredevils opted for bowler Pradeep Sangwan over a young Virat Kohli in the 2008 IPL auction. The decision was driven by a top-heavy batting lineup and a critical need for bowling options. Kohli, who was batting in the top order, simply had no spot in the crowded Delhi batting card. He was subsequently picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore and has since become an IPL legend.

Key Points: Sehwag: Why Delhi Daredevils Chose Sangwan Over Kohli in IPL 2008

  • Delhi had a packed top-order
  • Needed bowling resources
  • Kohli batted at 3 or 4
  • Sangwan was picked for balance
  • Kohli joined RCB for Rs 12 Lakh
2 min read

Virender Sehwag recalls why Delhi Daredevils picked Pradeep Sangwan over Virat Kohli in IPL 2008

Virender Sehwag explains Delhi Daredevils' 2008 IPL choice, picking bowler Pradeep Sangwan over a young Virat Kohli due to team balance.

"We lacked a bowler, so we decided to go with Pradeep Sangwan instead of Kohli. - Virender Sehwag"

New Delhi, April 16

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has recalled why Delhi Daredevils opted for Pradeep Sangwan instead of a young Virat Kohli during the inaugural Indian Premier League season in 2008, citing team balance and lack of bowling options at the time.

Speaking on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Sehwag said the franchise had a packed top-order batting line-up, which made it difficult to accommodate all players in the XI.

"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," Sehwag said.

He added that Kohli was also batting in the top order, but the team was forced to prioritise bowling resources due to squad composition.

"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," he said.

During the inaugural season of IPL, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru) picked the young Kohli for Rs 12 Lakh during the auction. Kohli then went on to become one of the most successful players in the franchise's history.

Representing the Bengaluru-based franchise, Kohli has amassed 8889 runs in 272 matches and 262 innings in IPL history. The right-handed batter has smashed eight centuries and 65 half-centuries at an average of 39.86.

In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Kohli is the leading run-getter with 228 runs in five matches, including two fifties.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan from Australia now living in Mumbai, this is fascinating. It highlights the importance of squad composition in T20 leagues. Every team has these "what if" stories. Imagine if Kohli had started with Delhi... RCB's history might be completely different!
A
Ananya R
Sehwag bhai is right. At that time, Virat was just a promising youngster from the U-19 World Cup win. No one could have predicted he'd become this big. Sangwan was a specific need. It's not like they passed on a proven legend. Team management has to make tough calls.
V
Vikram M
This is the ultimate "sliding doors" moment for IPL. Delhi's loss was Bangalore's gain, big time! 💥 RCB built an empire around him. Just goes to show, sometimes the best decisions are the ones you don't make. Delhi fans must still be having nightmares about this!
K
Karthik V
With all due respect to Viru paaji's explanation, this is still a massive blunder in retrospect. You find a way to fit a talent like Kohli into your team, period. You don't let a generational player go for a bowler. This is why some franchises win trophies and others don't.
P
Priya S
It's a great lesson for young fans. Even the greats like Kohli were not automatic picks once upon a time. Hard work and performance after selection is what matters. Look at him now - leading run scorer again! 🏏 True champion mentality.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50