RCB fans deserve a farewell season from Virat Kohli

Prachi Rajan

Virat Kohli's recent decision has made fans speculate his IPL retirement (Source: OneCricket)Virat Kohli's recent decision has made fans speculate his IPL retirement (Source: OneCricket)

In a recent development, IPL 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s star boy, Virat Kohli, has decided not to renew a brand deal that is connected to his team. According to reports by Rohit Juglan from RevSportz, Kohli has hinted that RCB looks for alternate faces for the lucrative brand deals. 

This has led to speculations of Virat Kohli’s IPL retirement. Kohli, who has already retired from Test cricket and T20I at the international level, has not yet said anything about his plan for franchise cricket.

But, if the speculations are considered to be true, we believe Kohli leaving the RCB is not fair for the one-time IPL title winner. Read further to know why Virat Kohli owes another year to the franchise.

Kohli rose, fell, grew and faltered - all in RCB colours

Thanks to his outstanding performance in the Under-19 World Cup, Virat Kohli, the Bangalore-based IPL franchise, RCB, in the inaugural season in 2008, bought the batter for ₹12 lakh (0.12 crore). He is the first and only player in IPL history to have played for the same team in every season. 

In the first edition, Virat, in 12 matches, averaged 15.00 and scored 165 runs. Even in the following two seasons, Kohli failed to impress, lacking consistency with his scores. Despite that, the franchise kept faith in the young Delhi boy and retained him.

Eventually, Kohli found his footing in the competitive tournament. He improved his performances, with 2011 being his breakthrough year, hitting 557 runs at an average of 46.41. Subsequently, the Indian star became the captain in 2013.

For the next 9 years, RCB reached many playoffs, and Virat Kohli stayed as one of their highest scorers. But, never touched the trophy until 2025. While it is easy to say that Kohli brings a lot to the franchise, experts like Tom Moody have emphasized how his career bloomed under RCB.

"His cricketing career was nearly born at RCB. So that's why I think he's so emotional, because he's been so invested as a young player with a young mind, without knowing the body of work that he's going to do in the game and that status that he was going to get in the game," Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.

How RCB made Virat Kohli - King Kohli

While debriefing Kohli’s IPL career, one can notice how the RCB management over the years assisted the young boy to achieve the status he presently holds in the game. In an interview, Virat Kohli himself explained how he transformed from a boy who was so invested in the game as a young player to a leader who understands the body of work that goes into the game.

Playing for the franchise, Kohli saw them reach the playoffs as many as 10 times in 18 seasons, but still not winning the title. Nonetheless, Virat Kohli turned up season after season, hardly missing any matches. While Kohli’s loyalty is commendable, one can’t deny, RCB gave him the stage and opportunities to conquer the game.

And now that speculations are made about Virat Kohli’s IPL retirement, staying another year wouldn’t be so bad.

Reigning champions need Kohli more than ever

Becoming the IPL champions in the 18th edition, RCB terminated the 18-year-long wait. Apart from winning the trophy, this moment gave Kohli everything he has been hustling for over almost a couple of decades. The world saw King Kohli sobbing like a kid; this is how much it meant for him. In the words of the former RCB pacer Varun Aaron, on ESPNcricinfo's Time Out show, "He (Kohli) has been the king of the castle in RCB for 18 years."

Every time RCB failed to win the trophy, the team and fans turned to Virat Kohli, seeking answers and to know what next. Even before the title win, Royal Challengers Bangalore boosted the biggest fandom despite zero trophies, the reason we all know. But if you live under a rock, Virat Kohli is the sole reason that kept the fans’ hopes high.

Hence, his retirement will not only mark the end of an era, but it will also diminish their hopes to dominate the cash-rich tournament as Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have for years.

Perfect chance for RCB to expand its legacy 

With the franchise already going through numerous transitions, including a new captain, Rajat Patidar, and soon a new owner, their loyal fans are now wondering whether Kohli is also leaving the RCB.

Virat Kohli’s retirement for IPL 2026 will expose way too much for the newly made IPL champions. Talking about a few, one cannot disapprove the fact that Kohli is the backbone of the RCB in all aspects, commercial as well as in terms of the game. The most consistent player for RCB’s exit will not only crumble their squad, but could also deprive them of their loyal fans who have supported the team with the trophy and without the trophy.

While we cannot take away the authority for Virat to decide his retirement, he is only 36 years old. His guidance, especially now, is more important than ever. It is the best time for RCB to become the new IPL supremes.