Virat Kohli Confirms 2027 ODI World Cup Will Be His Last for India
Indian batting star Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his final World Cup appearance for India, giving himself one last major target — helping the team lift the coveted trophy.
Speaking to JioStar ahead of India’s ODI series against the West Indies, Kohli said the upcoming World Cup will provide extra motivation as he looks to give everything in pursuit of another World Cup title.
“For me, it's the last World Cup I'm going to play for India. And that is my motivation. To leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup,” Kohli said.
The 37-year-old, who now plays only ODI cricket among the international formats, already has the experience of winning an ODI World Cup. He was part of India’s victorious 2011 campaign under former captain MS Dhoni.
Kohli also highlighted the unique physical and mental demands of a 50-over World Cup. According to him, maintaining T20-like intensity across multiple matches makes the tournament particularly challenging, especially when playing in foreign conditions.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, adding another layer of challenge for the participating teams.
Meanwhile, former India captain Rohit Sharma, 39, also spoke about his ambitions heading into the tournament. Rohit said he does not consider his World Cup journey finished and remains focused on what lies ahead.
He stressed that ICC tournaments bring unique challenges because teams face different opponents across different venues and conditions, requiring players to adapt their preparation and approach.
With both Kohli and Rohit looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup, India’s veteran stars appear determined to make the most of what could be their final appearance on cricket’s biggest ODI stage.