Virat Kohli confirms 2027 World Cup will be his last

MUMBAI: India batting star Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 50-over World Cup will be his final appearance at the tournament for India, setting the stage for what could be the closing chapter of his remarkable ODI career.

The 37-year-old made the announcement while speaking to broadcaster JioStar on Saturday, saying he intends to give everything he has in pursuit of another World Cup title.

“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India,” Kohli said, adding that winning the tournament would be his primary motivation.

Kohli remains India’s leading century-maker in ODI cricket, with 54 hundreds to his name. He has accumulated 14,941 runs in the format, placing him second on the all-time list behind legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 18,426 ODI runs.

The upcoming World Cup will be Kohli’s fifth ODI World Cup. He was part of India’s victorious campaign in 2011, when the team won the title on home soil. Twelve years later, India reached the final of the 2023 edition but lost to Australia.

The 2027 World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October to November, meaning Kohli expects his final World Cup campaign to come in foreign conditions.

Reflecting on the demands of the tournament, Kohli described a 50-over World Cup as one of cricket’s most challenging competitions. He highlighted the intensity involved in playing several high-pressure matches while maintaining physical and mental energy throughout the tournament.

Kohli also pointed to the additional challenge of playing away from home, saying the conditions and workload could make the campaign particularly demanding.

While Kohli has already retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket, he continues to represent India in the ODI format. His decision means the 2027 tournament could mark the end of an international career spanning more than a decade and a half.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma, who also now plays only ODI cricket for India, remains motivated by the prospect of another World Cup campaign.

Rohit said the idea that his cricketing journey was nearing its end would not enter his mind while he was still playing, adding that he continued to have something to look forward to.

Both Kohli and Rohit have been included in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, with the opening match scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

With the 2027 World Cup now confirmed as Kohli’s final global ODI tournament for India, attention will increasingly turn to whether the veteran batter can finish his World Cup journey with another title.