Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) CEO Rajesh Menon has expressed confidence that Virat Kohli will continue playing for the franchise for at least another three to four years, citing the veteran batter’s fitness, passion and unwavering commitment to the team.
Speaking about Kohli’s future, Menon described the former India captain as inseparable from RCB and said the franchise icon remains as hungry for success as ever.
“RCB and Kohli are one”
Kohli has been part of RCB since the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, making him one of the longest-serving players with a single franchise in world cricket.
“RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin. He has been the constant factor for RCB throughout,” Menon said while speaking to a television channel.
He added that the franchise has never imagined RCB without Kohli and believes the star batter still has several years of top-level cricket left in him.
According to Menon, Kohli’s fitness levels and competitive spirit suggest that he can comfortably continue playing until at least 2030.
Another remarkable season
The 37-year-old once again demonstrated his value during RCB’s successful IPL 2026 campaign.
Kohli finished as the franchise’s leading run-scorer, amassing 675 runs and playing a crucial role in helping the team secure its second consecutive IPL title.
In the final against Gujarat Titans, he delivered a match-winning unbeaten 75 off 42 balls, guiding RCB to a five-wicket victory and sealing the chase with a six.
A legacy unmatched
Kohli’s association with RCB remains one of the most iconic player-franchise relationships in cricket history.
He is currently the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having accumulated 9,336 runs in 283 matches. His record-breaking 973-run season in 2016 remains one of the greatest batting performances in the tournament’s history.
More recently, he won the Orange Cap in 2024 with 741 runs before following it up with another outstanding campaign in 2025.
With back-to-back IPL titles and Kohli continuing to perform at the highest level, RCB fans will be encouraged by Menon’s belief that the franchise legend still has several successful seasons ahead of him.