Virat Kohli has made it clear that he still sees himself playing at the highest level for India, but the former India Captain also delivered a firm message regarding how he expects to be managed during the final phase of his international career while speaking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Podcast with Mayanti Langer.
OH MY GOD. 😱 Virat Kohli just dropped the BIGGEST statement of his career.
Test retirement. 2027 World Cup. He answered EVERYTHING.THEY DIDN'T DROP VIRAT KOHLI.
VIRAT KOHLI DROPPED THEM. 🔥He went back to Ranji. Sweated in domestic cricket. Worked on his game. Did EVERYTHING… pic.twitter.com/cuNrUErmvX
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) May 15, 2026
Now exclusively focused on ODI cricket after retiring from T20 internationals following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and stepping away from Test cricket last year, Kohli addressed the growing discussion around his place in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
At 37, Kohli remains one of the most productive ODI players in world cricket despite the format’s shrinking place on the international calendar. He scored 651 ODI runs last year at an average above 65, registered three centuries, and has already added another hundred this year while continuing his strong form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026.
“We’re in mid-2026. I’ve been asked so many times, ‘Do you want to play ’27?’ Why would I leave my home, 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,” Kohli said.
Kohli addresses questions over his future
Speculation around Kohli’s ODI future has intensified since his retirement from Test cricket, particularly as India continue balancing transition planning with the experience of senior players ahead of another World Cup cycle.
Kohli indicated that his continuation in international cricket will depend on whether both he and the Indian setup still believe he can contribute meaningfully to the side.
“If I can add value to the environment that I’m a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I’ll be seen.”
He added, “If I’m made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I’m not in that space.”
The comments are likely to attract attention given ongoing conversations around workload management, selection continuity and the long-term direction of India’s ODI squad. Kohli remains India’s second-highest ODI run-scorer of all time with 14,797 runs in 311 matches at an average of 58.71, behind only Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli defends his preparation and commitment
The veteran batter also strongly defended his work ethic and preparation standards, stressing that his approach towards fitness and match intensity has not changed despite nearing two decades in international cricket.
“When I arrive to play, I put my head down, I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way.”
“You want me to run from boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game, I will do that without a complaint. Because I prepare accordingly.”
Kohli has continued to maintain elite fitness standards deep into his career and remains one of India’s strongest fielders in the ODI setup. His record in South Africa — where the next World Cup will be played — is particularly strong, with an ODI average above 76 in the country.
He further stated, “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. And I am very clear in my head from that perspective.”
Frustration over mixed messaging
While Kohli did not directly identify selectors, management or board officials, he appeared frustrated by what he described as inconsistent communication around player backing and long-term trust.
“Look, if you go to your workplace, and if people say we believe in your abilities, and then a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it’s like, why?”
He continued, “Either tell me on day one I’m not good enough or I’m not needed.”
“Or if you’ve said I’m good enough and you say we’re not even thinking otherwise, then be quiet.”
Kohli’s remarks come after years of scrutiny surrounding his form across formats, particularly during the latter stages of his Test career. Between 2020 and 2025, his Test average dropped significantly compared to the peak years of his career, although his ODI performances have largely remained at elite levels.
Vijay Hazare Trophy helped Kohli reconnect with the game
Kohli also reflected on his return to domestic cricket during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he represented Delhi and scored 208 runs in just two appearances, including a century and a fifty.
The former India Captain said the experience allowed him to reconnect with cricket without the pressure of external judgement or constant discussion surrounding his future.
“That’s why when I went back to play, I was very clear in my head: I’m not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I’m going to play because I love playing the game. That’s how I played the Vijay Hazare [Trophy] as well.”
During the same conversation, Kohli also reflected on how returning to domestic cricket with Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy helped him reconnect with the game away from the pressures and scrutiny surrounding his international future. He said, “It was amazing. There was not a person in the [BCCI’s] Centre for Excellence [in Bengaluru]. Firstly, I thought I’ve played for so long and will it be motivating enough? But the moment my intentions switched to ‘I want to play because I love playing; I just love batting and I just want to focus on that’, I could not care [less about the stage].”
He added, “It’s not like I didn’t field. I fielded the whole game, and I was diving around, and I felt like a child again. I was like, ‘This is not about anyone else, this is about me and the game and that’s what it’s going to be’.”
Kohli rejects reactionary evaluations
Kohli also argued that modern cricket environments can become overly reactive to short-term results, insisting that preparation, discipline and consistency should remain central to player evaluation.
“If you start operating up and down because of results, you can never have a consistent stance.”
He added, “No one can guarantee performance in any space.”
Despite playing fewer ODIs because of scheduling realities, Kohli remains one of India’s most influential white-ball players. Alongside his international numbers, he has continued producing heavily in franchise cricket, including another 500-plus IPL season in 2026.
For now, Kohli’s message appears straightforward: he still wants to play for India and remains committed to the 2027 World Cup, but only in an environment where his value is trusted rather than repeatedly questioned.
