IPL 2026 makes the dream come true for Vihaan Malhotra
On his very first days, the young cricketer told his coach that Vihaan Malhotra wanted to one day be like Virat Kohli and also play cricket with the Indian cricket superstar. At that age, Vihaan himself did not know that these words would ever become reality.
Now Vihaan is 19 years old and his dream has come true in the biggest way possible. He has been picked up by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for the upcoming IPL 2026. He was bought for ₹30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, helping him realize his dream this summer.
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The India Under-19 star will now share the same dressing room, ground, dugout and even batting alongside Virat Kohli at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His coach at the Cricket Hub Academy revealed that Vihaan was a big fan of Kohli since childhood.
A true Virat Kohli fan since his childhood
Vihaan Malhotra watched the former Indian captain’s batting videos several times. He liked Kohli’s shots, especially the cover drive, and tried to copy them in practice. Vihaan also followed Virat’s fitness style very seriously and always wanted to learn everything he could from the Indian legend.
Kamal Sandhu was quoted by the Times of India as saying, “Kya pata tha woh bolega yeh aur yeh ek din sach ho jaayega. I am really happy for him. Virat ki videos dekhta tha-uske shots, especially cover drives, isko achhe lagte the. He is also a fitness freak. He always admired Virat and tried to make the most of that legend’s book. Playing for RCB will give him a lot of what he has learned. He is happy, very happy.”
RCB stint is all set to transform Vihaan Malhotra
Another coach, Ravneet Ricky, believes that the IPL 2026 stint with the RCB will help Vihaan grow even more as a cricketer. He said: “I am very happy for him that he will be sharing the dressing room with a legend like Virat Kohli at RCB this year.
After the IPL, a more refined Vihaan will come through. He will have a different approach and mindset after talking and spending time with Virat. Virat and I have played together a few times.”
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Strong performance and a great future ahead
The year 2025 was very special for Vihaan’s career. He scored 277 runs in just two Youth Test matches, including a top score of 120 runs.
He then played five Youth ODI matches and scored 243 runs including a century and continued his stunning form in the ongoing event.
Currently, Vihaan is the only India player to have scored a century so far in the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026. He also scalped four wickets and took two notable catches in the tournament.
The Patiala student will resume his training at his academy for the IPL 2026 after the India Under-19 duty. The coach concluded by saying, “There are a lot of plans for the IPL preparation. Let him come back, we will start those exercises too.”
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