“Virat Kohli is my favorite cricketer” - Afghanistan batting star picks favorite IPL team

Afghanistan cricketer Ibrahim Zadran has remarked that he would love to play for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), as he is a big fan of former India captain Virat Kohli. The 23-year-old batter will next play in the third season of the International League T20 (ILT20), which starts on Saturday, January 11. Zadran will represent the Gulf Giants in the tournament.

During an interview with Sports Tak (via their official Instagram handle) ahead of the tournament, Zadran was asked which IPL team he would choose if given the opportunity. Zadran responded by saying:

"Definitely, I’ll play for RCB because of Virat Kohli; he is my favorite cricketer. But it doesn't matter which team picks me. I’ve heard a lot about the IPL – it’s one of the top leagues, with many great cricketers playing there."

The Afghanistan cricketer went unsold during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are still chasing their first IPL title. They have reached the final on three occasions.

Virat Kohli, however, remains the top run-scorer in IPL history, being the only player to have scored over 8,000 runs. The 36-year-old has played 252 matches, amassing 8,004 runs at an average of 38.66, with 55 fifties and eight centuries to his name, the most by any player.

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Ibrahim Zadran has represented Afghanistan in 84 games across formats

Ibrahim Zadran made his Afghanistan debut in a Test match against Bangladesh in 2019. Since then, he has played in seven Tests, scoring 541 runs at an average of 38.64, including four half-centuries and one century.

The 23-year-old has also represented his country in 33 ODIs, amassing 1,440 runs at an average of 48, with seven half-centuries and five centuries to his name. Additionally, Zadran has appeared in 44 T20Is, scoring 1,105 runs, which includes eight half-centuries.