Will Virat Kohli retire from Indian Premier League?

Dubai: If reports circulating in cricketing circles are to be believed, Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli may be nearing the end of his Indian Premier League (IPL) career.

According to a recent report, the 36-year-old has reportedly opted not to renew his commercial contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the upcoming season. This development has sparked widespread speculation, although neither Kohli nor RCB has officially commented on the matter so far.

“This commercial decision, following closely on the heels of his Test and T20I retirements, has fuelled credible speculation that Kohli is mentally preparing for life after the IPL. He has chosen not to continue as RCB’s central brand ambassador moving forward,” a report from RevSportz claims.

It’s worth noting that Kohli had stepped down from RCB’s captaincy last year and backed Rajat Patidar to take over the leadership role. That decision proved to be historic, as Patidar led the franchise to their first-ever IPL title — finally bringing an end to Kohli’s long quest for the trophy.

Currently based in London with his wife and children, Kohli would need to spend nearly two months travelling across India during the IPL season — a physically and mentally demanding commitment. This taxing schedule could be another factor influencing his potential decision.

Kohli now plays only the ODI format for India, which involves fewer international fixtures and offers more breaks between series — another sign that the star batter might be gradually winding down his playing career.