Virat Kohli in IPL through the years: The transformation in pictures

2012: The turning point of his career

Kohli has confessed that the 2012 IPL season was the turning point of his career

Kohli has confessed that the 2012 IPL season was the turning point of his career: a juncture where he realised he needs to be fitter and stronger, if he intended to be the best in the world.

Ray Jennings maintained that Kohli was a future captain, both for the Indian team and RCB. The RCB yet again fell tantalisingly close to qualifying for the semis, but from a personal point of view Kohli began to understand himself much better and became a different player post that.

2013: Leaner and meaner, first taste of captaincy

Kohli averaged more than 45 in 2013.

A marked change in his physique, and an improved batting style, saw Kohli score heavily in the 2013 edition, averaging more than 45 with 634 runs in 16 matches. He also got his first taste of full-time captaincy at the international level.

He finished as the third highest run getter in 2013.

He finished as the third highest run-getter that season. The look had changed as well: the biceps were more prominent, the waistline shrunk, but the aggression was as sharp as ever.