Virat Kohli says 2027 World Cup in South Africa and Zimbabwe will be his last

The Announcement

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has stated that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his final one for the country. The upcoming tournament, which will be held in South Africa and Zimbabwe, will serve as his main motivation to give everything on the field.

Career Stats and Goals

Kohli has scored 14,941 runs in the 50-over format so far. This puts him second on the all-time top-scorer list, right behind Sachin Tendulkar, who has 18,426 runs. Kohli previously won the World Cup at home in 2011 and faced a defeat in the 2023 final against Australia. The 2027 event will mark his fifth ODI World Cup appearance.

Tournament Challenges

Speaking about the format, Kohli explained that the intensity of a 50-over World Cup is very high. He noted that playing about 10 matches at a T20 level of intensity, which equals about two and a half T20 games in a single day, takes a lot out of a player, especially in foreign conditions.

Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina's Views

Fellow player Rohit Sharma also shared his thoughts, stating he is motivated to play the next World Cup and feels he still has business to finish. Meanwhile, former cricketer Suresh Raina believes that having both Rohit and Kohli on the team gives India a 90 per cent chance of winning the trophy in South Africa and Zimbabwe.