Mumbai: Indian cricket veteran Virat Kohli has said he has “nothing left to prove” in international cricket and will only consider playing the 2027 ICC One-Day International World Cup if he believes he can still contribute meaningfully to the team.
The 37-year-old batting star made the remarks during a podcast released by his Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he addressed speculation surrounding the final phase of his international career.
Kohli, who retired from Twenty20 Internationals after helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup and ended his Test career last year after 123 matches, is now active exclusively in the ODI format.
Despite stepping away from two formats, Kohli remains one of India’s most experienced and influential players in one-day cricket.
Asked about the possibility of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup, the former India captain said he would continue only if he remained valuable to the team environment.
“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,” Kohli said.
He stressed that he continues to approach the game with full commitment and intensity regardless of age or career stage.
“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,” he said.
“I prepare for the fact that 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, and I will do everything possible for the team.”
Kohli also appeared to respond to criticism and scrutiny surrounding his performances in recent years, saying he would not continue in environments where his value constantly needed to be justified.
“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 said.
“And I am very clear in my head from that perspective.”
Kohli remains one of the greatest ODI batters in cricket history.
The former Indian captain has played 311 One-Day Internationals, scoring 14,797 runs at an average of 58.71.
Only Sachin Tendulkar has scored more runs in ODI cricket, with 18,426 runs during his career.
Now in his 17th year of international cricket, Kohli has continued to perform at the highest level despite growing scrutiny over consistency and form.
Last year, he faced criticism after registering consecutive ducks against Australia national cricket team, but later responded strongly with major performances against South Africa national cricket team and New Zealand national cricket team.
Kohli also enjoyed a successful return to the IPL this season after last representing India in January and has already scored a century during the ongoing tournament.
The batter questioned the rapid changes in public perception surrounding athletes’ performances.
“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?” Kohli said.
“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.”
The next ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 is scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia during October and November next year.
If selected, Kohli would be appearing in what could become the final World Cup tournament of his historic international career.