Ace Team India batter Virat Kohli confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup would be his final World Cup for India ahead of the 2026 series against the West Indies. The 37-year-old has already retired from T20Is and Tests, but remains as dominant as ever in ODIs.
Kohli has been in red-hot ODI form this year, averaging 64 at a strike rate of almost 107 in six outings. The champion batter has also thrived in 50-over World Cups, averaging an incredible 59.83 with five centuries in 37 games.
Talking about the importance of next year’s ODI World Cup, Kohli said on Jio Star (via Rediff):
“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India. And that is my motivation. Like, you know, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup. And whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready.”
Kohli tasted success in his first-ever ODI World Cup in 2011, when India triumphed on home soil. However, he has returned empty-handed in the last three editions despite India reaching at least the semi-final each time.
“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything” – Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli called the ODI World Cup the most challenging, intensity-wise, given the number of high-pressure games in a short span. The champion right-hander is the second-leading run-scorer in ODI World Cups with 1,795 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar.
“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it’s about 10 games at a T20 level of intensity. But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament- the World Cup is a big deal. Also, now it’s in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you,” said Kohli (via the aforementioned source).
Kohli led the run-scoring chart in the 2023 ODI World Cup with 765 runs in 11 innings, earning him Player of the Tournament honors. However, the Men in Blue suffered a heartbreaking six-wicket loss to Australia in the summit clash after running through the table.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
