'Of course, if I'm playing, but...': Virat Kohli breaks silence on 2027 ODI World Cup aspiration
Virat Kohli remains committed to representing India in ODIs, emphasizing mutual respect and value as key to his continued participation. He stated he will play as long as he can contribute meaningfully and feels valued by the team, not in a phase where he needs to prove himself.
Virat Kohli, regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters of his generation, may have retired from Tests and T20Is, but the 50-over format still remains his strongest domain. With 14,797 runs in 311 ODIs at a staggering average of 58. 71 and strike rate of 93.
82, including 54 centuries and 77 fifties, Kohli continues to remain one of India’s most valuable players in white-ball cricket. Amid growing speculation around whether he will feature in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, Kohli made it clear that he is fully prepared to continue representing India, provided the relationship between player and team remains mutually respectful and valuable. Speaking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s podcast shared on the franchise’s official X handle, Kohli opened up about his current mindset regarding international cricket and his long-term future.
Kohli stated that as long as he feels he can contribute meaningfully to the environment and the team believes in the value he brings, he is more than willing to continue playing. However, he made it equally clear that he no longer sees himself in a phase where he must constantly “prove” his worth. "My perspective is very clear.
If I can add value to the environment that I am a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not in that space. Because I am being honest to my preparation," he said.