Former England fast bowler Steven Finn believes star batter Virat Kohli can extend his career well into his 40s, similar to legendary wicketkeeper batter MS Dhoni. Finn’s comments came after Kohli played a key role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) successful campaign during the IPL 2026 season.
The IPL 2026 final was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets after chasing a target of 156 in just 18 overs. Kohli led the chase with an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls and helped RCB secure a second consecutive IPL title.
He Might Go On Like MS Dhoni For Another Five Or Six Years – Steven Finn On Virat Kohli
Steven Finn stated Virat Kohli could continue playing for another five or six years. Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket YouTube channel, Finn said stepping away from T20Is and Test cricket has helped Kohli stay fresh and fully focused on franchise cricket.
“Taking a step back from T20Is and Tests has done him the world of good to be fresh for the IPL. He might go on like MS Dhoni to go on for another five or six years,” Finn said.
“It was interesting when he said the young guys motivate him and force him to improve. You would imagine performances from someone as young as Suryavanshi are influencing a great player like Virat Kohli to look inwards. He is like fine wine at the moment and just getting better and better,” he added.
Kohli enjoyed another outstanding IPL season in 2026, scoring 675 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 165.85. In the final against Gujarat Titans, he reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries and helped RCB secure a second consecutive IPL title.
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Virat Kohli Just Never Lacks The Drive – Stuart Broad Praises RCB Star
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad praised Virat Kohli’s determination and commitment after another successful IPL season. Broad said that Virat Kohli has maintained the same hunger throughout his career and never stopped pushing himself.
He won every trophy throughout his career and has finally won two IPLs. It did feel like the IPL was going to be the one that slipped past him. It felt like everyone was desperate for him to win, but it looked like he just wasn’t going to get over the line. Kohli just never lacks the drive, and his fitness levels have influenced a whole generation of Indian cricketers,” said Broad (via the aforementioned source).
Kohli played in three IPL finals during his first 17 seasons with RCB without winning the title. However, he has finished as RCB’s leading scorer in back-to-back title-winning campaigns. The batting great is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 9,336 runs in 283 matches at an average of 40.41.
MS Dhoni Did Not Play A Single Game In The Edition
The discussion around longevity has also brought renewed attention to MS Dhoni‘s future in the IPL. The Chennai Super Kings legend did not feature in a single match during IPL 2026 after being ruled out by injury, remaining away from the spotlight throughout the season.
Dhoni missed the entire campaign due to a calf injury followed by a thumb problem. Without their former captain, Chennai Super Kings struggled for consistency and finished eighth in the points table with 12 points from 14 matches. CSK missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.
Despite his absence, Dhoni’s legacy in the tournament remains unmatched. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 5,439 runs in 242 IPL innings, including 24 half-centuries, with a highest score of 84*. His future and potential return continue to be major talking points among cricket fans.
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