NEW DELHI: India batting star Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be his final World Cup for India, bringing his international career closer to its final chapter.
Speaking to broadcaster JioStar on Saturday, Kohli said the 50-over World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, would be the last World Cup he plays for India.
“This is the last World Cup I will play for India,” Kohli said, adding that his motivation would be to give everything on the field and help India win the trophy.
The 37-year-old has already retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket and currently represents India only in the ODI format. The ICC has previously reported that Kohli remains committed to featuring in the 2027 World Cup.
Kohli is the leading century-maker in ODI cricket, with 54 hundreds, and is second on the format’s all-time run-scoring list behind Sachin Tendulkar. He has scored more than 14,000 ODI runs and was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad.
The 2027 tournament will be Kohli’s fifth ODI World Cup. He was also part of India’s campaign in the 2023 edition, where the hosts reached the final before losing to Australia.
Kohli acknowledged the unique demands of a 50-over World Cup, particularly the intensity of playing a long tournament with around 10 matches and the added challenge of competing outside India.
India are continuing their preparations for the 2027 World Cup through their ODI programme. Kohli and Rohit Sharma have both been included in India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, with the first match scheduled for Sunday.
While Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 World Cup will be his final World Cup for India, the statement does not amount to an announcement of an immediate retirement from ODI cricket. His future after the tournament remains separate from the confirmation that it will be his final World Cup appearance.