Virat Kohli Till IPL 2030? RCB Stars Who Could Pay The Price

Virat Kohli in IPL 2026 (Source: AFP)

Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been inseparable over the years. Since the start of the IPL in 2008, Virat Kohli has been loyal to the franchise and has been the face of the team.

After RCB finally ended their long wait for an IPL trophy in 2025 and followed it up with another title in 2026, there were reports and discussions about whether Virat Kohli could consider stepping away from the tournament.

Virat Kohli to play 4 more IPL seasons

However, RCB CEO Rajesh Menon has dismissed such concerns, stating that the former RCB captain still has several years of cricket left in him.

"RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin. He’s been the constant factor for RCB throughout. We’ve not seen him not being part of RCB even if he moves out of his cricketing career. We’ve to figure out that. That said, next three-to-four years, I’m sure he’ll be playing for at least four years." RCB CEO Rajesh Menon added. 

Will IPL Retention Rules Create A Selection Headache For RCB?

While Virat Kohli's continued presence would be great news for fans, it could create difficult decisions for the franchise when the next IPL mega auction arrives.

Under the current IPL retention rules, franchises can retain a maximum of six players before a mega auction. Out of those six, a maximum of five can be capped international players, while up to two can be uncapped Indian players.

Also Read: BCCI Drops Bombshell On Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's 2027 World Cup Status

The next IPL mega auction is ahead of the 2028 season, and if Kohli still plays, he will undoubtedly remain the defending champions' top retention choice.

Having said this, in this article, let’s take a look at three players who might have to compromise their spot to make place for Kohli.

Which RCB Players Can Suffer Virat Kohli's Retention?

Devdutt Padikkal

It is worth noting that Devdutt Padikkal has enjoyed a roller-coaster journey with RCB. He first made headlines in IPL 2020, scoring 473 runs in 15 matches, and the followed that up with 411 runs in IPL 2021.

RCB released him before the 2022 mega auction, after which he joined Rajasthan Royals. He scored 376 runs in 2022 and 261 runs in 2023 before being traded to LSG ahead of the 2024 season. However, he struggled there, managing just 38 runs in seven matches.

The turning point came at the 2025 mega auction when RCB bought him back for his base price of ₹2 crore. Despite a hamstring injury cutting his season short, he scored 247 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 150.61.

He continued his progress in IPL 2026, scoring 464 runs in 16 innings at an average of 33.14 and a strike rate of 168.72. However, if Virat Kohli continues with the franchise, RCB might have to give up on Devdutt Padikkal in the IPL 2028 mega auction, given current mega auction rules.

Jacob Bethell

England all-rounder Jacob Bethell joined RCB during the IPL 2025 mega auction for ₹2.60 crore. However, he has not been a regular starter for the franchise.

Across the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Bethell played nine matches and scored 163 runs at a strike rate of 140.52. In IPL 2026, he initially got opportunities when Phil Salt was unavailable due to injury, but once Salt returned, Jacob Bethell found himself back on the sidelines.

 His lack of regular game time could make him vulnerable when retention decisions are made. The current IPL mega auction rules allow a maximum of 6 retentions per team with 5 capped Indian or Overseas and 2 Uncapped retentions are allowed. 

Hence, Virat Kohli's retention along with Phil Salt at the opening slot seems the most reasonable option for RCB.

Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer was acquired by RCB for ₹7 crore during the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The left-handed batter played a major role in RCB’s successful campaign, delivering several important performances under pressure.

One of his standout innings came against Punjab Kings, where he smashed an unbeaten 73 off just 40 balls to strengthen RCB's playoff chances.

His ability to contribute in big matches makes him a valuable player. However, with Kohli expected to remain a central figure, even Iyer could find himself in a challenging position when the next mega auction approaches. 

Venkatesh Iyer was tried across multiple positions in the batting line up at RCB this year. However, on the biggest night of the tournament, the IPL 2026 final, he was used as an opener.

In the pecking order, Iyer ranks the lowest among the options available and hence, he might have to take the hit if RCB intend to retain Virat Kohli beyond IPL 2027.

Also Read: When RCB Went All-In For Prema Rawat Amid Shreyanka Patil Injury Scare