Virat Kohli has said he has nothing left to prove in international cricket and will consider playing the 2027 ODI World Cup only if he feels he can still contribute meaningfully to Team India.
The 37-year-old veteran is currently active only in the One-Day International (ODI) format after retiring from T20 Internationals following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Kohli had also announced his retirement from Test cricket last year after playing 123 matches in the longest format.
Speaking on a podcast of his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli said he remains committed to giving his best whenever he represents India, but he would not continue just to prove himself.
Kohli said that if he can still add value to the team environment and the management believes in his abilities, he will be available for selection. However, he made it clear that he does not want to be in a situation where he constantly has to prove his worth.
The former India captain explained that he always gives maximum effort on the field, whether while batting, fielding, or running between the wickets. He said he approaches every game with full intensity and prepares as if every ball could be the last of his career.
Kohli added that once a player has consistently worked hard and performed for the team, repeated questions over his value become unnecessary. According to him, players should either be trusted fully or clearly informed if they are no longer needed.
Despite facing criticism over consistency last year, especially after scoring back-to-back ducks against Australia, Kohli bounced back strongly with important performances against South Africa and New Zealand.
Kohli played 13 ODIs last year and scored 651 runs. He has also returned strongly in the ongoing IPL season and has already scored a century.
One of the greatest ODI batters in cricket history, Kohli has scored 14,797 runs in 311 ODI matches at an average of 58.71. Only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more runs in ODI cricket with 18,426 runs.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia during October and November next year.
