RCB CEO speaks candidly about Virat Kohli's future at franchise

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) CEO Rajesh Menon has expressed full confidence that Virat Kohli will remain with the franchise for “at least four years.” Menon admitted that the team is yet to imagine a dressing room without Kohli, underscoring his importance to the side.

“RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin,” Menon told 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-four years, am 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-four years, absolutely no problem.”

Kohli’s performances continue to back up Menon’s faith. In IPL 2026, he finished as RCB’s leading run-scorer, amassing 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84, including one century and five half-centuries. His consistency and intensity remain the hallmark of his game.

Virat Kohli’s World Cup ambition

Beyond the IPL, Kohli has set his sights on representing India at the ODI World Cup in 2027. Speaking candidly on the RCB podcast during IPL 2026, he unveiled his motivation:

“We’re in mid-2026. I have been asked many times, ‘Do you want to play in 2027?’ Why would I leave home, get my stuff over and be like ‘I don’t know what I want’? Of course, if I'm playing, I want to play cricket, I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing.”

Kohli also emphasised his work ethic and commitment to the team:

“When I arrive to play, I put my head down, I work as hard if not harder than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way. You want me to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game, I will do that without a complaint. Because I prepare accordingly. I prepare for the fact that I will field 50 overs every ball like it's the last ball I'm going to play in my career. And I will bat that way. And I will run between the wickets that way. And I will do everything possible for the team.”

The former India captain had also made it clear that his motivation is rooted in passion and not validation.

“After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me. And I am very clear in my head from that perspective. That's why when I went back to play, I was very clear in my head, I'm not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I'm going to play because I love playing the game.”