Will Virat Kohli retire after IPL 2026?Image Credit source: PTI
Throughout the IPL 2026 season, the discussion was going on whether this is MS Dhoni’s last season. Dhoni did not play even a single match but it was not clear whether he would return next year or not. But apart from this, just before the final of the season, suddenly a similar discussion started about Virat Kohli. The reason for this is two photos, one of which was posted by Royal Challengers Bangalore and the other by team captain Rajat Patidar.
Uneasiness increased due to these two photos
Before the final to be held between Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans on Sunday, May 31, Bengaluru and team captain Patidar posted one photo each on social media at different times. First of all, Rajat Patidar posted a photo after the team’s victory in Qualifier-1, in which he and Virat Kohli Were. ‘The Final’ was written on the stadium screen in the background.
But till this photo, there was no commotion or restlessness among the RCB fans. Then a photo of Kohli was posted from the official handle of RCB, in which he was coming down the stairs of Narendra Modi Stadium. It was written in this photo – The Last Mile. As soon as this photo came, Kohli and Bengaluru fans became apprehensive whether this was a sign of Kohli’s retirement from IPL.
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 30, 2026
Will Kohli really retire?
Fans gave many reactions to these two posts and started suspecting that this might be Kohli’s last match. However, no such indication was given to Kohli throughout the season and he kept saying again and again that he is still completely fit and ready to play. In such a situation, whether Kohli retires or not will be known only after the final or before the start of the next season.
Well, seeing the way Kohli’s bat is moving and the agility shown in his fielding, hardly anyone would say that he is going to retire after this final. Till the final, in IPL 2026, Kohli has scored 600 runs in 15 innings, in which his average was 50 and strike rate was 164. He has scored 4 half-centuries and 1 century. He has been the highest run scorer for RCB this season too.
