Ishant Sharma’s joke led Virat Kohli to sign KS Bharat for RCB

KS Bharat has revealed how a lighthearted team-bonding session during the Indian cricket team's 2021 home series against England led to his IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Ishant Sharma, then a teammate, went around a breakfast table urging Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli to sign the wicketkeeper-batsman. Rohit said Mumbai Indians already had Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul said he kept wickets himself. Ishant then turned to his Delhi friend Kohli, who noted that Parthiv Patel was retiring.

Bharat said he had first spoken to Kohli in a lift in Chennai before the auction, asking for a chance because nobody scouts Andhra. Kohli promised to look into it. The conversation at breakfast began as a joke but turned serious, with the whole team wanting to help. Bharat said he felt welcomed by the unit even before making his debut. RCB signed him for Rs 20 lakh in the auction that followed. He made his IPL debut in 2021, scored a last-ball six in his final league game, and played eight matches for RCB before moving to other franchises.