Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli has hinted that he "intends to stay" with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) until 2027, potentially completing two decades with the franchise, following his retention by the team for a significant sum of Rs 21 crore.
The retention news has excited fans, as Kohli expressed his hopes to finally claim the elusive IPL title with RCB.
At 36, Kohli is entering the twilight of his career, yet he remains motivated to continue playing top-flight cricket despite a recent performance dip.
Kohli has been a steadfast presence in RCB since the IPL’s inception in 2008, accumulating over 8,000 runs and becoming the league’s leading scorer.
Reflecting on his journey, Kohli remarked in a candid conversation on RCB’s ‘Bold Diaries’ programme, “At the end of this cycle, it is going to be 20 years that
I am going to be playing for RCB and that in itself is a very, very special feeling for me.”
The cricketer reaffirmed his commitment to the team, adding, “I don’t see myself anywhere other than RCB, and I am very happy that it happened. I am very excited that I got a chance to create a strong new squad in this auction, something that we are really looking forward to as a franchise, as a team.”
Kohli emphasised his enduring bond with RCB’s fans and expressed his determination to deliver a championship.
“I am super excited as ever, as everyone knows what RCB means to me. It’s been a very, very special relationship over so many years, which continues to grow stronger,” he said, further sharing his aspiration of bringing the IPL trophy home at least once in the upcoming cycle.
The celebrated batsman ended his message with gratitude: “We are going to give it our best shot as always and try to make everyone proud of the way we
play our cricket. A big shout out to the fans for your unwavering support over so many years. I am really grateful, really thankful.”
Meanwhile, RCB head coach Andy Flower hailed Kohli’s retention, remarking on his importance to the team’s future. “Virat’s retention won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone in India. He is and will be a key to RCB’s success in the future.He was sensational last year, one of the leaders who propelled us into the playoffs despite a poor first half of the season,” Flower told JioCinema.
RCB, besides Kohli, has retained Rajat Patidar for Rs 11 crore and Yash Dayal for Rs 5 crore, leaving them with a sizeable Rs 83 crore for the mega auction set to take place later this month.
The franchise is also expected to employ its three Right to Match (RTM) cards to retain a mix of capped and uncapped players.
Key players like Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Faf du Plessis, and Cameron Green are set to go under the hammer in the upcoming auction, where RCB aims to fortify its lineup for a promising IPL season.
Follow us
