Virat Kohli has said he wants no “complications” around his role in the India setup and warned that, if he is repeatedly forced to justify his worth, the situation “is not meant” for him. Speaking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s podcast, the 37-year-old underlined that he still enjoys cricket and remains open to the 2027 ODI World Cup, but only if there is clarity and mutual understanding from both sides.
“I am always ready because that’s part of my everyday life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It’s because I like living that way. It’s not only to play cricket. That’s where I am,” Kohli said. He added that the ongoing discussions about the 2027 World Cup have come up repeatedly. “I’ve been asked so many times, ‘do you want to play 27?’”
Kohli explained why he would not make decisions without certainty. “I know the answer. Why would I leave my home, get my things over, and act like I don’t know what I want? Of course, if I’m playing, I want to play cricket and I want to keep going. A World Cup for India is amazing, but as I said, the value has to be two-sided,” he added.
Kohli wants a clear, two-way assessment
In the same conversation, Kohli stressed that his mindset toward the sport is straightforward. “My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment I’m part of, and the environment feels I can add value too, then I’ll be seen,” he said. “But if I’m made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I’m not in that space.”
Following his retirement from T20 internationals in 2024 and Tests in 2025, Kohli now plays only ODI cricket for India. With fewer ODI matches being scheduled, his opportunities in the national side have naturally become more limited.
Next ODI assignment and questions over ODI future
Kohli is expected to be in India’s ODI series against England, scheduled from July 14 to July 19. However, India head coach Gautam Gambhir has not yet provided a definitive signal on how Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be viewed for the future in ODI cricket.
Despite the uncertainty around broader planning, Kohli said he continues preparing with full commitment. “I’m being honest to my preparations, and honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down, I work hard. When I arrive to play, I work as hard as—if not harder than—anyone else, and I play the game in the right way,” he said.
He also spoke about his responsibility on the field. “I’ll do that because I prepare accordingly. I’m prepared that I will field 50 overs. After operating in this way, if I have to prove my worth and value, then that place is not meant for me,” Kohli added.
Return to Vijay Hazare Trophy after nearly two decades
Kohli went on to recall his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after almost two decades during the 2025-26 season. He played two matches for Delhi, struck a century in one of them, and became the fastest batter to reach 16,000 List A runs.
“I was very clear in my head that I wasn’t going out there to prove anything to anyone. I went there to play because I love the game. That’s how I played Vijay Hazare as well. It was amazing,” Kohli said.
He explained how his motivation changed once his focus shifted purely to enjoyment. “I thought, I’ve played for so long—do I still have the motivation? But the moment my intention switched to ‘I want to play because I love the game’, I just loved batting. I felt like a child again. It was like, this isn’t about anyone else, this is about me and the game,” he added.
No room for selection uncertainty
Kohli also said he does not like uncertainty around selection and role clarity. “The moment I feel people are trying to complicate it for me and be like ‘oh this and that’, either be clear, be honest, and be upfront—or be quiet and let me play,” he stated. “If you go to a workplace and people say we believe in your abilities, and a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it’s like why?”
He further emphasized the importance of consistent messaging. “Either tell me on day one that I’m not good enough or I’m not needed, but if you’ve said I’m good enough and you’re not thinking otherwise, then be quiet,” Kohli said. “If you start operating up and down because of results, you can never have a consistent stance.”
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