Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has offered a deeply honest perspective about the possibility of playing the ODI World Cup 2027 and his future in international cricket. Kohli, currently enjoying another impressive season in the IPL with the bat, has been one of the standout performers in the tournament. He is sitting third in the Orange Cap standings with 484 runs in 12 innings, including a magnificent century and three half-centuries. 

Notably, despite being 37 years old, Kohli's consistency and intensity remain unmatched. Over the last few years, he has gradually stepped away from ODI and Test formats of the game. After helping India lift the 2024 T20 World Cup, he announced his retirement from T20 Internationals. 

Later, ahead of the England tour last year, he also bid farewell to Test cricket. Now speaking on his plans, Kohli made it clear that he does not believe in forcing his presence into any setup. According to Kohli, the moment a player has to repeatedly prove his worth despite years of commitment and dedication, then it becomes difficult to feel truly valued. 

“As for all the 2027 World Cup talk, honestly, we are still in mid-2026. I have been asked many times, ‘Do you want to play in 2027?’ Why would I leave my home, bring all my stuff here, and not want to play? Of course, if I am playing, I want to play for India. I want to be part of a World Cup. But the value has to be clear," Kohli said on the RCB podcast.

“My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment that I am a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not in that space. Because I am being honest to my preparation. I am being honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down. I work hard. I am very thankful to God for giving me everything that I have been given in my cricketing career. And I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity. And when I arrive to play, I put my head down," Kohli said.

“I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way. You want me to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game? I will do that without a complaint. Because I prepare accordingly. I prepare for the fact that I will feel ,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 said.

“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.

Kohli emphasised that he is always mentally and physically prepared for every series, but his motivation now comes from knowing that he can truly contribute to the team and that his presence is respected.

“I know what I can deliver because I literally live my life like that. It is not like I prepare for a series to, you know, suddenly start working hard two or three weeks before. I am like that through the year. So if you call me to play, and if you say there is a series coming up, I am ready. I am always ready because that's my daily life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It is because I like living that way. It is not only to play cricket. So that is where I am. I mean, this 27 (2027 World Cup) chat and all that, honestly, for me, it is like, we are at like mid 26. But I've been asked so many times, do you want to play 27?,” he said.

“I know the answer. Like, why would I leave my home, you know, 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. But as I said, the value has to be two sides,” Kohli added.