RCB CEO assures Kohli will play at least 4 IPLs:Wishes to keep Virat after retirement, legend scored 600+ runs for 4th consecutive season

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) CEO Rajesh Menon believes that Virat Kohli will continue to play in the IPL for the next four years. He said that Kohli’s fitness is excellent and his hunger for cricket is still the same. Rajesh Menon, in a conversation with CNBC TV18, said that RCB and Virat Kohli are two sides of the same coin. According to Rajesh, we have not even imagined the team without Kohli. He said that even after retiring from cricket, Kohli could remain associated with the franchise in some capacity. He is fit, and you have seen his energy, run-scoring ability, and attitude in IPL 2026. Kohli smashed 600+ runs for the 4th consecutive season In IPL 2026, Kohli scored the most runs for RCB, 675 runs in 16 matches. He batted at a strike rate of 165.84, which was his best strike rate in any single season of his IPL career. With this feat, Virat also achieved the record of scoring more than 600 runs for the fourth consecutive season. In the final, Kohli played an unbeaten innings of 75 runs, thanks to which Bengaluru became IPL champions for the second consecutive time. The team defeated the Gujarat Titans by 5 wickets in the summit clash of IPL 2026. ‘Love for the game is still intact’: Virat Kohli Last month, Virat Kohli had said that he puts his heart and soul on the field because one day his career will end. He said that he wants to enjoy every day to the fullest and likes to challenge himself in high-pressure situations. According to Kohli, sports not only teach performance but also build a person’s character. He said that even after so many years, he still has the same love for the game, and the joy of hitting the ball right in the middle of the bat still feels the same. Star cricketer desires to play until the 2027 World Cup Kohli, who has retired from Test and T20 cricket, has already made it clear that he wants to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He had said that if he is playing cricket, his goal is to continue playing and to play the World Cup for India. However, due to a hamstring injury, he was ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against Afghanistan. It is hoped that Kohli will be fully fit by the ODI series against England in July. ‘I am not in that space to prove my worth and my value’: Kohli In the RCB podcast earlier during IPL, Kohli had said that his perspective is very clear. If he can contribute to the team environment and the team also feels the same, then he will continue to play. He said that he does not want to play under the pressure of proving his worth in every match. According to Kohli, he is completely honest about his preparation and hard work. On the field, he is ready to make every possible contribution for the team, be it batting, fielding or running between the wickets. Kohli said that he no longer plays to prove anything to anyone. He plays simply because he loves cricket.