Whenever the Indian Premier League (IPL) begins, cricket fever grips the entire country. Among all the franchises, few enjoy a fan following as massive as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). After years of heartbreak, RCB finally ended their title drought by winning their maiden IPL trophy in 2025. The franchise then continued its dominance by successfully defending the title and becoming champions once again the following season.
A major reason behind RCB's immense popularity over the years has been Virat Kohli. Despite the team going many seasons without lifting the trophy, Kohli remained loyal to the franchise and led it from the front. For millions of fans, Virat Kohli and RCB have become inseparable, with many believing that Kohli is the face of the franchise.
Virat Kohli IPL Retirement Update
However, with Kohli now 37 years old, speculation has been growing about his future in the IPL. Addressing those rumors, RCB CEO Rajesh Menon has offered reassuring news for the franchise's supporters. Speaking about Kohli's future, Menon said that Virat Kohli and RCB are like two sides of the same coin. He emphasized that Kohli has played a crucial role in making the franchise successful and said that he would always remain a part of the RCB family, even after retirement.
Menon also expressed confidence that Kohli still has at least three to four years of IPL cricket left in him.
"Virat Kohli and RCB are inseparable. His contribution to the success of this franchise has been immense. Even after retirement, he will always remain a part of this team. I firmly believe he can continue playing in the IPL for another three or four years," Menon said.
The comments have delighted RCB fans, many of whom have taken to social media expressing confidence that Kohli will continue representing the franchise for several more seasons.
Meanwhile, Kohli has set his sights on playing the 2027 ODI World Cup. To extend his career, he has already retired from T20 Internationals and Test cricket, choosing to focus exclusively on the ODI format.
At present, Kohli is missing India's ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan due to an injury. Known for his exceptional fitness standards, he is expected to recover and return for the next international assignment. Many believe that Kohli is likely to continue playing international cricket until after the 2027 World Cup before considering retirement.
Kohli also enjoyed another outstanding IPL season recently, scoring 675 runs in 16 matches. He capped off the campaign with a brilliant half-century in the final and struck the winning shot that helped RCB secure their second IPL title. Currently taking a short break from cricket, Kohli is working towards regaining full fitness and is expected to return to action in India's upcoming series.
