Is Virat Kohli considering retirement from IPL? Batting superstar's refusal to renew contract with RCB sparks rumours

Virat Kohli sparked rumours of retiring from the Indian Premier League more than four months after helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru end an 18-year wait for a maiden title. Discussions surrounding his future in the IPL arose after the batting superstar refused to renew a contract with the franchise that he has represented since the inaugural edition in 2008.

As per RevSportz, Kohli has not renewed his commercial contract with RCB a little over a month ahead of the player retention deadline for the 19th IPL season that will take place next year.

Kohli has already retired from Twenty20 Internationals as well as Tests, bringing the curtains down on the latter in May, less than a month before RCB's historic victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL final. And the latest development puts a question mark over his future in the world’s biggest T20 league, in which he is the only player to have represented the same franchise throughout its existence.

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Chopra dismisses Kohli IPL retirement talk

Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders opener Aakash Chopra, however, dismissed speculations of Kohli’s IPL retirement. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-commentator explained what a commercial contract is and how it differs from a playing contract.

“He has reportedly refused a commercial contract, but what does that mean? He will definitely play for RCB. If he is playing, he is definitely going to turn out for the same franchise,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

“He (Kohli) has just won the trophy. Why will he leave the franchise then? He isn’t going anywhere. What contract can be refused is in the realm of speculation. He might have a dual contract,” he added.

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Kohli remains the face of RCB at the age of 36, having been one of just three players retained by the franchise ahead of last year’s mega auction in Jeddah.

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And given his remarkable fitness levels as well as the fact that he’s still piling on the runs  the franchise is likely to keep the former India captain at the heart of their plans in the coming years, much like Chennai Super Kings have with MS Dhoni.