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Virat Kohli on ODI World Cup 2027 participation: India batting great Virat Kohli shared a clear and honest view about his future in international cricket and the possibility of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup. Kohli, who is currently featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, said that he still has the hunger to contribute, but only if he feels trusted and valued by the team environment.

The chase master, who is only featuring in ODIs after stepping away from T20Is following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win and retiring from Test cricket before the England tour is currently third in the Orange Cap race this season with 484 runs in 12 innings, including one century and three half-centuries.

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Virat Kohli doesn't want to justify his place despite giving everything to the game

With ODI matches becoming less frequent, discussions around the 37-year-old’s role in India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup have continued. Responding to that, Virat explained that he no longer wants to be in a place where he constantly has to justify his place despite giving everything to the game.

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"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.

"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."

Virat Kohli on his preparations before featuring in a match

Virat also spoke about the effort and commitment he still brings every time he steps onto the field, saying he is always prepared to give his absolute best for the team.

"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.

BCCI on Virat Kohli's place in the 2027 ODI World Cup

India head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar remain noncommittal on guaranteeing Virat Kohli’s place in the 2027 ODI World Cup, emphasising a focus on current performance and future planning.

Virat Kohli's ODI Career

Virat Kohli is arguably the greatest ODI batter the game has ever seen. In 311 matches, he has scored 14,797 runs at an outstanding average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93.82. His record includes 54 centuries which is the highest by any batter in ODI cricket, along with 77 half-centuries.

Virat Kohli's recent ODI form

Even though India played fewer ODIs last year, Virat still finished as the team’s highest run-scorer. He made 651 runs in 13 innings at an impressive average of 65.10 and a strike rate of 96.10, which included three hundreds and four fifties.

He has carried that form into this year as well. In just three ODI matches, Virat has already scored 240 runs at an average of 80.00 and a strike rate of over 105, with one century and one half-century to his name.


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