Will Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play the 2027 ODI World Cup? It goes without saying that this has been one of the most-talked-about topics in the cricket fraternity. Rohit, in an earlier interview, had expressed his desire to win the ODI World Cup in 2027, having fallen just one step short in 2023. And now, we have a sneak peek into Virat’s plans as well. Virat, alongside Rohit, are just single-format players for India. The two had retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup and, interestingly, bid farewell to Test cricket last year. Virat Kohli opens up on his plans for ODI World Cup 2027 With Virat playing just ODIs now, there have been a lot of speculation on his future with the ODI World Cup on the horizon next year. The 2027 World Cup would be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. And it goes without saying that the presence of both Virat and Rohit would be priceless for India’s hopes of lifting the silverware. But has Virat set his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup? “No one can guarantee performance in any space. In terms of effort and commitment, I know what I can deliver because I live my life like that. It’s not like I prepare for a series and suddenly start working hard two or three weeks before. I am like that through the year,” he said, speaking on RCB’s podcast. “If you call me to play and say there’s a series coming up, I am ready. I am always ready because that’s my daily life. I work out, we eat well at home. It’s because I like living that way. It’s not only to play cricket. This ’27 chat and all that. I have been asked do you want to play 27? Of course, if I am playing I want to play cricket. I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing, but the value has to be two-sided,” Virat explained. In an earlier part of the interview, Kohli elaborated on the value part of his statement on the 2027 World Cup. “If I can add value to the environment that I am a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I’ll be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I am not in that space. Because I am being honest to my preparation and how I approach the game. I have put my head down, I work hard and I am very thankful to God for giving me everything I have in my cricketing career and I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity,” he said. The RCB star, despite having achieved so much in his cricketing career, gave a glimpse into his mindset at this stage when it comes to the game. And it isn’t much different to what the Kohli of old would have. “When I arrive to play, I will put my head down. I will work as hard, if not harder than anyone else and I’ll play the game in the right way. If 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,” the 37-year-old added. “I will field 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. 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 elaborated further. Also read: Was enjoying my bit of Test cricket’: Rohit Sharma jokes at his 26-ball 25; Arshdeep Singh faces heat for calling Tilak Varma ‘Andhere’ ‘Everyone felt like they had responsibilities and ownership’ One of the greatest aspects of Virat’s career was his contribution to the Indian Test cricket team. Just three days ago, it was the first anniversary of his Test retirement, while debates would continue to rage on if Virat had some years in him in the longest format, the former India captain reflected on his career in the whites. “I, in fact, looked at the times that I have been able to play Test cricket for so long and, you know, the opportunity and lead India for so long to, you know, some amazing victories and a golden era in our Test journeys. You know, a bunch of young guys who always wanted to play Test cricket for India, having the opportunity of their lives as a young group,” Virat looked back on his Test career. The 123-Test veteran further shared how the players not having much of an age difference saw them take up ownership and responsibility. “The most important thing was that if you look at our average age, you know, there was no hesitation between seniors and juniors. Everyone had played under the senior players a little bit before, and so many of the younger guys that came in after, we were like a group of friends. So what happened was, okay, I was leading, and the management was, you know, taking the team forward in a certain way, but the most important thing was because of the average age of the group, everyone felt like they had responsibilities and ownership,” he said. Virat retired as India’s most successful Test captain with a win percentage of 58.82. He also finished as the fourth-highest run-getter for India in Tests, with 9230 runs to his name, including 30 hundreds and 31 fifties. Also read: ‘I did it for you,’ Tilak dedicates knock to Rohit: Mumbai star shows his abs; Ponting and Zinta’s intense on-field chat | WATCH Virat Kohli looks back at IPL 2025 title win RCB, after an 18-year wait, won the IPL 2025 title, overcoming a spirited Punjab Kings outfit in a thrilling final. As soon as the last ball was bowled, Kohli dropped to his knees and shed tears of joy at finally being able to win the one trophy that eluded him all his career. Speaking on RCB’s maiden IPL title win, Virat, who has been with the franchise since the first year of the tournament, said, “When you see from the outside what has happened to the franchise, how RCB has been looked at for so many years… as a big team, big franchise that’s never won – the almost champions, the ones that have come close but never really won the trophy. And for that pressure to build over so many years, like season after season.” “There’s one thing to observe it and there’s one thing to live it. And I have lived through all of those seasons,” he added. When asked as to how it would have been if he hadn’t won the IPL before retiring, Virat gave a candid response. “Although I wouldn’t have carried on regretting it. But there would have been a part of me that would have wondered, you know, what it would have felt like to experience that moment,” he said. Post navigation Why has Kieron Pollard been fined 15% of match fee?:MI batting coach penalised despite team’s victory over Punjab Kings
