India batting great Virat Kohli has confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his last World Cup for India, putting an end to speculation about his future in the 50-over format. Kohli made the announcement while speaking to broadcaster JioStar ahead of India’s ODI series against West Indies.
The 2027 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, is set to be Kohli’s fifth ODI World Cup appearance. The former India captain said the tournament will be his motivation and that he intends to give everything to help India lift the trophy.
“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India. And that is my motivation,” Kohli said. He added that his goal is “absolutely to win the World Cup” and that he is ready to do whatever it takes.
?VIRAT KOHLI ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AFTER WC 2027 ?
Virat?️: “For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India & that is my motivation. Like, you know, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup and whatever it takes,… pic.twitter.com/UB15hPmuKN
— Sam (@cricsam02) September 26, 2026
Virat Kohli’s ODI career
Kohli remains one of the most prolific batters in ODI cricket. He has scored 14,941 ODI runs and 54 centuries, making him the leading century-maker in the format. He is second only to Sachin Tendulkar in total ODI runs.
Kohli was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team and also played in the 2023 edition, where India finished runners-up after losing the final to Australia. The 2027 tournament will therefore give him another opportunity to chase a second World Cup title.
The batter has already retired from T20I and Test cricket, meaning ODI cricket is now the only international format in which he represents India.
Why the 2027 World Cup matters to Kohli
Speaking about the tournament, Kohli highlighted the intensity of ODI World Cup cricket, particularly with the next edition being played in foreign conditions.
He said maintaining the required intensity across a 50-over World Cup is a major challenge, comparing the workload of a tournament campaign to several T20 matches played over a single day.
With the 2027 World Cup still around a year away, Kohli’s immediate focus will be on India’s ODI assignments, beginning with the three-match series against West Indies.
Rohit Sharma also targeting 2027 World Cup
Kohli’s announcement comes alongside renewed focus on Rohit Sharma, who has also retired from T20Is and Tests and now plays only ODI cricket for India.
Rohit said he remains motivated to play the 2027 World Cup and that as long as he continues playing, there will always be something to look forward to.
Kohli and Rohit are both part of India’s ODI squad for the three-match series against West Indies, with the first ODI scheduled to be played in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27.
The upcoming series will therefore mark another important chapter in Kohli’s final phase of ODI cricket, with the 2027 World Cup now confirmed as the tournament he intends to make his final World Cup appearance for India.
IND vs WI 1st ODI: Date, time and venue
The first ODI between India and West Indies will be played on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The toss will take place at 1:30 PM IST, while the match will begin at 2 PM IST.
Where to watch IND vs WI 1st ODI live on TV?
Indian viewers can watch the live telecast of the India vs West Indies ODI series on the Star Sports Network.
Where to watch IND vs WI 1st ODI live online?
The match will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website in India.