Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest ODI batters of his generation, has made it clear that he is ready to continue playing for India in the 50-over format as long as there is mutual respect and value between him and the team. While he has retired from Tests and T20Is, Kohli remains a dominant force in ODIs, with 14,797 runs in 311 matches at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93.82, including 54 centuries and 77 fifties.
Kohli's mindset on his future
Speaking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's official podcast, Kohli opened up about his approach to international cricket. He emphasized that he no longer feels the need to constantly prove his worth. "My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment and the environment feels I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth, I'm not in that space," he said.
Kohli added that his preparation standards remain as intense as ever. "I work as hard, if not harder than anyone else. I play the game in the right way. You want me to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game? I will do that without a complaint. After operating like this, if I have to prove my worth, that place is not meant for me," he explained.
2027 World Cup speculation
Addressing constant chatter about the 2027 Cricket World Cup, Kohli admitted he already knows the answer internally. "This 2027 chat... honestly, for me, it is like we are at mid-2026. Why would I leave my home and get my stuff over if I don't know what I want? Of course, if I'm playing, I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing. But the value has to be two-sided," he concluded.
Kohli's comments come amid growing speculation about his participation in the next ODI World Cup. With his consistent performance and unwavering commitment, the star batter remains a key asset for India in white-ball cricket.
