'Main sher ki tarah khelunga': Kohli's RCB teammate reveals chat with Virat on IPL future

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's talismanic batter Virat Kohli (IPL Photo)

Virat Kohli played a massive role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden glory in the IPL 2025. While he failed to lead the team to the elusive title as a captain, Kohli - the batter - dished out a match-winning performance in the final, which RCB won by six runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS). In a pitch, where others struggled, Kohli read the situation and stoked 43 off 35 balls.

If we focus on his numbers from the season, the talismanic batter amassed 657 runs from 15 innings, which was the third-highest total among the batters. During the course of the tournament, Kohli slammed eight half-centuries, and maintained a decent strike-rate of 144.71.

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Swastik Chikara, who was roped in by RCB at the mega-auction, didn't get a chance to play any match but he was lucky enough to spend ample time with Kohli, someone whom he idolises.

Recently in an exclusive conversation with RevSportz, Chikara gave insights on Kohli's IPL future, revealing what the talismanic batter said. "Virat bhaiya said, 'Jab tak cricket khelunga, jab tak main poora fit hoon. Ye Impact Player ki tarah nahi khelunga. Main sher ki tarah khelunga (I will play cricket for as long as I am completely fit. I won't play as an Impact Player. I will play like a lion),” noted Chikara.

“'I will field for the full 20 overs and then bat. The day I have to play as an Impact Player, I will quit cricket',” he added.

Kohli has retired from T20Is and Tests and is now focused in the 50-over format but it remains uncertain considering the recent reports. However, his influence in RCB camp is utmost and there are no plans as such to retire from the league. In fact, in a recent conversation with Cricbuzz, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat spoke in length about the management willingness to keep Kohli in loop before taking any major decision, such as captaincy. Bobat revealed how he and head coach Andy Flower had a conversation with the former RCB captain before appointing Rajat Patidar as the new leader of the franchise.