Former England fast bowler Steven Finn believes that star batsman Virat Kohli can extend his career till the age of 40 like great wicketkeeper batsman MS Dhoni. Finn’s comments come after Kohli played a key role in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) successful campaign during the IPL 2026 season.
IPL 2026 final was played Narendra Modi Stadium On 31 May in Ahmedabad. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, chasing the target of 156 runs in just 18 overs, defeated Gujarat Titans (GT) by five wickets. Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls in the chase and helped RCB clinch their second consecutive IPL title.
He can work like MS Dhoni for the next five or six years – Steven Finn on Virat Kohli
steven finn said Virat Kohli Can continue playing for the next five or six years. Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket YouTube channel, Finn said that stepping away from T20I and Test cricket has helped Kohli stay fresh and focus completely on franchise cricket.
“Taking a step back from T20 and Test has given him a chance to freshen up for the IPL. He can play like MS Dhoni for the next five or six years,” Finn said.
He said, “It was interesting when he said that young people inspire him and force him to improve. You would imagine that the performance of a young player like Suryavanshi is influencing a great player like Virat Kohli to see from the inside. He is like fine wine at the moment and is getting better all the time.”
Kohli enjoyed another excellent IPL season in 2026, scoring 675 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 165.85. In the final against Gujarat Titans, he completed his half-century in just 25 balls and helped RCB clinch their second consecutive IPL title.
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Virat Kohli never lacks 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 eventually won two IPLs. There was a feeling that the IPL would slip out of their hands. It seemed as if everyone was desperate for him to win, but he seemed unable to cross his limits. Kohli has never lacked drive, and his fitness levels have impressed an entire generation of Indian cricketers,” Broad said (via the above 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 great batsman is the highest run-scorer in IPL history, having scored 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 received renewed attention ms dhoniFuture in IPL. After being ruled out due to injury, the Chennai Super Kings legend did not participate in a single match during IPL 2026 and remained away from the limelight throughout the season.
Dhoni missed the entire campaign due to a calf injury and subsequent thumb problem. Without their former captain, Chennai Super Kings struggled for consistency and finished eighth on the points table with 12 points from 14 matches. CSK missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Despite his absence, Dhoni’s legacy in the tournament remains unmatched. The wicketkeeper-batsman has scored 5,439 runs in 242 IPL innings, including 24 half-centuries, with a highest score of 84*. His future and possible comeback remains a major topic of discussion among cricket fans.
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