Virat Kohli at RCB till 2030? Franchise CEO drops massive hint on IPL future

If MS Dhoni can carry himself around the Indian Premier League (IPL) at 44, why can’t Virat Kohli? He may be 37 right now, but he still remains one of the fittest players in the current era. That’s what has set Kohli apart.

His hunger, motivation, mastery and fitness have all combined to take him to the pinnacle of sports. After winning two back-to-back IPL titles with his beloved Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), you could ask if Kohli has the same hunger. The modern-day legend has now completed almost everything in cricket.

Virat Kohli till IPL 2030?

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He won IPL 2025, breaking an 18-year drought. Then, RCB saw him master a chase at IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans (GT) to make RCB just the third franchise to defend an IPL title. Fresh off back-to-back IPL titles, Menon said he sees Kohli continuing to play for at least another three to four years, a statement that could effectively extend the batting great’s IPL career until 2030.

But, we all know, if Kohli wants to, he can easily push retirement years ahead. But considering how surprisingly he hung up his Test boosts, you just never know.

“RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin,” Menon said while speaking to CNBC TV18. “He has been the constant factor for RCB throughout. We have not seen him not being part of RCB even if he moves out of his cricketing career. We have to figure out.”

“That said, next three to four years, I’m sure he’ll be playing…for at least four years. He is fit; the hunger never dies. You saw him this IPL season bring on the energy, runs, attitude….everything was there. Three to four years, absolutely no problem.”

Kohli isn’t slowing down anyway

Menon isnt’ wrong in any regard as well. He is no longer the anchor, who will act as a foil to stabalise the RCB unit. Now, under Andy Flower, Mo Bobat and Dinesh Karthik, RCB have found the formulae using which the franchise has become the most consistent it has ever been.

Just like in his ODI career, Kohli has reinvented his T20 game. Kohli has just completed one of the most productive phases of his T20 career. Since retiring from T20 internationals after India’s World Cup triumph, he has continued to dominate the IPL while adapting his game to modern demands.

Most IPL runs since Virat Kohli’s T20I retirement

What stands out is not just the volume of runs, but the manner in which Kohli has scored them. His strike rate has comfortably crossed 150 while maintaining an average above 55. As a matter of fact, even during his famous IPL 2016 season, Kohli’s strike rate was 152. This year, it was a superb 166. Talk about reinvention.

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