Virat Kohli for RCB in IPL 2026 [Source: AFP]RCB and Virat Kohli are synonymous terms, and after the franchise won the 2026 IPL edition after a 17-year wait, his presence has become more prominent ever since. Ahead of the IPL 2026 campaign opener on March 28, the new co-owner of RCB, Satyan Gajwani, the chairman of The Times group, part of the Aditya Birla consortium that acquired the franchise, spoke on Virat Kohli’s future in the league, sparking curiosity amongst the fanbase. Is Kohli’s Future In IPL Wobbly? At 37, Kohli is almost at the fag end of his career. After retiring from Test and T20I formats for India, the maestro will not be far from hanging up his boots from the domestic format. Although it remains an uncertain future, given his inclination towards living a healthy family life in London, it seems like the days are close. However, a reflection of Satyan on Kohli’s future lit up some of these clouds of uncertainty that have been on the 44-year-old MS Dhoni for many years now. Also Read- Virat Kohli To Unleash His Dangerous Version In IPL 2026; Videos Go ViralRCB Co-Owner Hints at Virat Kohli’s Availability After IPL 2026 Gajwani, who himself is an avid follower of cricket for many years and has been posting insightful cricket comments on his social media handles, hinted at the long-term availability of Virat Kohli. Speaking to The Times of India, Gajwani shared how he is thinking of a long-term future plan on the growth of RCB as a franchise with Virat, who himself is the owner of his own brand One8. "Virat is an iconic player, and we're grateful to be able to partner with him. When the deal finally gets completed, I am sure we will have close conversations with him and his team to understand their goals and objectives, and how we can collaboratively drive success for all involved," the vice-chairman commented. How RCB Is An Important Investment For The Aditya Birla ConsortiumSpeaking further on the profitability of the investment in the Virat Kohli starrer, and how the team has been shaping up as winners in both IPL and WPL, Gajwani was excited to join as one of the investors in the consortium that bought the team for USD 1.78 billion. "As you would have seen, there were multiple international parties interested in the teams through the process. It is great validation for the IPL and WPL's success to date and their promise and trajectory ahead. Many of these investors see the IPL as the highest growth sports opportunity around the world today," Gajwani added. "The media has reported the value to be a 'steal' of sorts given the pricing. Pricing is always subjective. It is a strong price for a strong franchise, and I think both the buyers and sellers are happy with the outcome," Gajwani concluded. Virat Kohli & Co. To Storm Into IPL 2026 With ConfidenceNevertheless, RCB had been a dominant force in IPL 2025 and would like to continue their strong form in this edition of the tournament as well. With five games in Chinnaswamy and two of their home games to be hosted in Raipur, the ticket sales are likely not to be affected. Apparently, Kohli’s presence will be a massive crowd puller and hence, further increase the worth of the franchise across venues and states.Also Read- Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Pitch Report, Weather Report For RCB vs SRH Match 1, IPL 2026
