Virat Kohli, widely seen as one of the defining ODI batters of his era, may have stepped away from Test and T20 international cricket, but the 50-over game still looks like his most natural hunting ground. In 311 ODI matches, he has amassed 14,797 runs at an average of 58.71, striking at 93.82. His record reads 54 centuries and 77 fifties, underlining how consistently he has delivered in cricket’s longest limited-overs format. Even as his international workload shifts, Kohli remains among India’s most trusted and valuable white-ball performers.
With talk growing about whether he will take part in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, Kohli has offered a firm indication that he is not closing the door on representing India. His message has been clear: he is open to continuing as long as the working relationship between the player and the team stays respectful—and both sides see genuine value in the arrangement.
Speaking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s podcast shared through the franchise’s official X account, Kohli discussed his current mindset toward international cricket and what his longer-term plans could look like. He suggested that the decision is not only about his own readiness, but also about whether he feels he can still contribute in a meaningful way while the team believes his presence brings something important.
Kohli explained that he does not view himself as someone who should have to constantly “prove” his worth. In his words, if he can add value to the environment around him and that environment feels the same, then he will be seen as a part of it. However, he drew a line when the expectation becomes for him to justify his value rather than simply perform. “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.
He also detailed how his internal routine and preparation reflect his approach. Kohli said he stays disciplined in how he thinks about the game—putting his head down, working hard, and approaching every opportunity with gratitude. “I am being honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down. I work hard. I am very thankful to God for giving me everything that I have been given in my cricketing career. And I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity. And when I arrive to play, I put my head down,” Kohli added.
Beyond mindset, Kohli stressed that his standards before matches have not lowered with time. He insisted that he still commits fully to ODIs, bringing the same level of intensity and energy to his preparation. “I work as hard, if not harder than anyone else. And 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. Because I prepare accordingly. I prepare for the fact that I will feel ,50 overs, every ball like it's the last ball I'm going to play in my career. And I will bat that way. And I will run between the wickets that way. And I will do everything possible for the team. After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me,” he continued.
When asked about the constant World Cup speculation, Kohli admitted that he already knows the answer internally about whether he wants to keep going. He framed his readiness as something built into everyday life—fitness work, healthy habits at home, and a routine that exists beyond cricket alone. He also addressed the way people keep bringing up the 2027 edition. “I am always ready because that's my daily life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It is because I like living that way. It is not only to play cricket. So that is where I am. I mean, this 27 (2027 World Cup) chat and all that, honestly, for me, it is like, we are at like mid 26. But I've been asked so many times, do you want to play 27?” he said.
He then explained why he would not consider extending his career in a direction that feels uncertain. Kohli said that if he is playing, he wants to play cricket—and that the chance to represent India in a World Cup is special. Still, he reiterated that the value has to be shared by both sides. “I know the answer. Like, why would I leave my home, you know, get my stuff over and be like, I don't know what I want. Of course, if I'm playing, I want to play cricket. I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing. But as I said, the value has to be two sides,” Virat concluded.
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