Virat Kohli Discusses His Future in Cricket and 2027 World Cup Aspirations

Virat Kohli has expressed that he feels he has achieved everything in international cricket and would only contemplate participating in the 2027 ODI World Cup if he believes he can still make a significant contribution to Team India.

At 37, Kohli is currently focusing solely on the One-Day International (ODI) format after stepping back from T20 Internationals post India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He also retired from Test cricket last year after a commendable run of 123 matches.

During a podcast with his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli reiterated his dedication to giving his all for India, though he refuses to keep playing for the sake of validation.

He emphasized that he would be open to selection if he can add value to the team and if management believes in his capabilities. However, he firmly stated that he does not want to be in a position of constantly having to validate his role.

Kohli noted that he always puts in maximum effort on the pitch, whether through batting, fielding, or running. He approaches each game with full focus and prepares as if it might be his last.

The former captain conveyed that once a player has diligently performed for the team, ongoing doubts about his worthiness are unnecessary. Players should either receive complete trust or be informed if they are no longer valued.

Despite criticism regarding his consistency last year, particularly after two consecutive ducks against Australia, Kohli rebounded impressively, delivering crucial performances against South Africa and New Zealand.

Having played 13 ODIs last year, Kohli scored a notable 651 runs. He has also made a strong impression this IPL season, hitting a century already.

Kohli is celebrated as one of the finest ODI batsmen of all time, with an impressive total of 14,797 runs across 311 ODI matches at an average of 58.71, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar, who leads with 18,426 runs.

The 2027 ODI World Cup is set to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November.