5 Unsung Indian Stars Who Lifted the IPL Trophy Before Virat Kohli, ft. Cheteshwar Pujara

Star Indian batter Virat Kohli took 18 seasons to win his first IPL title when Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) won the trophy in the 2025 season. They defeated the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the final.

Virat Kohli played a key role and was the top run-scorer for RCB this season. He scored 657 runs in 15 games, with an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71, including eight half-centuries.

Kohli had come close to winning the title three times when RCB reached the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but he could not win the trophy. Overall, he has scored 8,661 runs in 267 IPL matches, with an average of 39.54, including eight centuries and 63 fifties.

While it took him 18 years to win the IPL, several players were lucky enough to win the trophy much earlier. This also includes players who were part of winning teams but did not make a big contribution themselves.

Here are five Indian players you may not know who won the IPL before Virat Kohli:

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5. RP Singh – Deccan Chargers, IPL 2012

Former India pacer RP Singh made his IPL debut in 2008 with the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. The next season, in 2009, he won the league as Deccan Chargers beat RCB by six runs in the final.

Batting first, they scored 143/6 and then restricted the opposition to 137/9. RP Singh bowled four overs and gave just 16 runs while taking one wicket. Virat Kohli also played in that final and scored seven runs. The left-arm pacer was important throughout the season and ended as the highest-wicket taker with 23 wickets, winning the 'Purple Cap'.

4. Wriddhiman Saha – Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2011

Former wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2011 and was in the final against RCB. He did not bat in the final but still won the title as CSK beat RCB by 58 runs. That season, Saha batted in three innings and scored 68 runs, with a top score of 46 not out. Virat Kohli scored 35 runs in the 2011 final. Saha had a good season with 557 runs from 16 games at an average of 46.41, including four fifties, but could not win the trophy before the final.

3. Jaydev Unadkat – Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2012

Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat was part of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) when they won the IPL in 2012. KKR beat CSK by five wickets in a close final. CSK scored 190/3 batting first, and KKR chased it down in the last over. Unadkat did not play in the final and played only one game that season, giving 32 runs in three overs without taking a wicket. Even so, he became an IPL winner. He also played with Virat Kohli in 2013 when Unadkat joined RCB.

2.  Unmukt Chand – Mumbai Indians, IPL 2015

Former India batter and Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Unmukt Chand won the IPL before Virat Kohli. He was part of Mumbai Indians (MI) when they won the league in 2015. MI beat CSK by 41 runs in the final. Unmukt Chand did not play in the final. He played six matches that season and scored 102 runs at an average of 20.40, including one half-century. He last played in the IPL in 2016 for MI, after which he was released and never returned to the league.

1. Cheteshwar Pujara – Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2021

Veteran Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who recently retired from all Indian cricket, also won the IPL before Virat Kohli. Pujara was bought by CSK in 2021 for ₹50 lakh. They beat KKR in the final by 27 runs. Pujara did not play any game that season but became an IPL champion. He had returned to the league after 2014. Pujara played alongside Virat Kohli when Kohli was part of RCB from 2011 to 2013. He was released after 2021 and never played in the IPL again.