“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India,” the 37-year-old told broadcaster JioStar on Saturday. “That is my motivation and like, you know, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup and whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready.”
Kohli already retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket. He now plays for India only in ODIs. He has 54 one-day hundreds, the most in the format, and 14,941 ODI runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,426.
He won the World Cup on home soil in 2011 and lost the 2023 final to Australia. The 2027 event, hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October to November, will be his fifth ODI World Cup.
He described the physical cost of a 50-over tournament away from home. “The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it’s about 10 games at a Twenty20 level of intensity. But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament and World Cup is a big deal. Also now, it’s in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you.”
Former captain Rohit Sharma, who also plays only ODIs for India, said he was still fully motivated. “The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished. As long as you’re playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I’m looking forward to the World Cup.”
Both men are in India’s squad for a three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The first match is in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. That series begins the long road to Kohli’s planned farewell tournament.