Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) icon Virat Kohli, who finally won his first-ever IPL title in 2025, has been said to have opted not to extend a commercial agreement linked with the franchise before IPL 2026. As per a report by RevSportz reporter Rohit Juglan, Kohli was set to renew his contract prior to the new season. But the latest news indicates that the ace batter has chosen not to renew it, which leaves doubts regarding his long-term relationship with RCB. Rohit Juglan reported: "Last time before the mega-auction, I got the lead that before the start of the next season of the IPL (that is in 2026), Virat Kohli would have to renew a contract in association with a brand. But the news is, he has not renewed his contract. Now the speculation is that Virat wants the RCB franchise to plan their way ahead without using his face." So far, neither Kohli nor the RCB management has issued any official statement. Still, the decision has triggered widespread speculation about Kohli’s next move, whether this signals a gradual exit from the IPL or is merely a commercial call. Also Read | IPL Tune Copied? Here’s the Real Story Behind the Iconic Music Kohli’s Legacy with RCB Virat Kohli’s journey with RCB started in 2008, right after leading India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup. Since then, he has been the only player to represent one franchise throughout his IPL career, a testament to his loyalty and leadership. From his breakout season in 2010 to his record-shattering campaign in 2016 where he scored the highest ever single edition runs - 973 runs including four centuries, Kohli’s performances have been the backbone of RCB’s brand. Under his captaincy (2013–2021), RCB won 66 matches out of 140, showcasing his consistency and commitment. It was in 2025 that Kohli finally achieved his age-old dream by taking RCB to their first-ever IPL title, which came at the expense of Punjab Kings in the final. The achievement was the result of almost two decades of commitment to the franchise. Juglan said: "Even last year, ahead of the mega-auction, when he was offered captaincy of the RCB side, he did not show interest in it and rather pined for Rajat Patidar and backed him with utter confidence." Also Read | Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President arrested for ticket sales scams during 2025 IPL Is Kohli Planning a Phased IPL Exit? Although nothing has been officially announced, Rohit Juglan indicated that Kohli could be planning a phased retirement from the IPL. Juglan explained: "Virat won’t act like Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I am not criticizing Dhoni; I just mean that, like, MS Dhoni retired from T20 internationals in 2020 and is still continuing with the IPL in 2025 and is expected to play in 2026 as well. Virat Kohli is not likely to continue so long once he retires from One-Days for the national side." For all the talk, however, Kohli is still the face of RCB and the all-time leading IPL run-scorer with more than 8,600 runs. If this move is a sign of his IPL retirement or merely a change of brand strategy, the fans will be eager to see what he does next.