Former India captain Virat Kohli has finally broken his silence over constant speculation about his future in international cricket and the possibility of playing in the ODI World Cup in 2027, saying he does not want to be in an environment where he is repeatedly asked to prove his worth despite his commitment and match preparation.
Kohli said this during an appearance on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast, where the batting great opened up about his mindset, his relationship with the game and the recurring questions surrounding his future in the Indian team.
The 37-year-old, who has only been playing ODI cricket for India since rafter India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and withdrawing from Test cricket ahead of last year’s England tour, he said his outlook on cricket is extremely clear.
“My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment I am a part of and the environment feels I can add value, I will be seen. If I feel I need to prove my value and worth, I am not in that space. Because I am honest when I prepare,” Kohli said.
“I’m honest about how I approach the game. I put my head down. I work hard. I’m very thankful to God for giving me everything I got in my cricket career. And I feel very blessed and grateful for the opportunity. And when I come to play, I keep my head down.”
Kohli emphasized that his commitment to Indian cricket has never changed and that he continues to prepare with the same discipline and intensity that has defined his career over the years.
“I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. And I play the game the right way. You want me to run from boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI? I’ll do it without complaint. Because that’s what I prepare for. I prepare to feel 50 overs, every ball as if it’s the last ball I’m going to play in my career. And I’ll run the wick that way. I’ll do everything for the team in my power.”
The veteran batsman said that after the surgery, with such commitment, he does not see the need to constantly justify his place.
“After operating like this, I have to be in a place where I have to prove my value and worth, this place is not meant for me,” he continued.
With ODI cricket now limited in the international calendar, questions surrounding Kohli’s participation in the 2027 World Cup have only intensified. However, the former Indian captain indicated that he already knows where he stands on the matter.
“I know what I can provide because that’s literally how I live my life. It’s not like I’m preparing for a series to, you know, suddenly start working hard two or three weeks before. I’ve been like that all year. So when you call me to play and when you say there’s a series coming up, I’m ready.”
“I’m always ready because that’s my everyday life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It’s because I love life so much. It’s not just playing cricket. So there I am. I mean, this chat 27 (World Cup 2027) and all that, honestly, for me it’s like we’re like halfway through 27. But I’ve said so many times to play.
“I know the answer. Like, why would I leave my home, you know, take my things and say I don’t know what I want. Of course, when I play, I want to play cricket. I want to continue. Playing the World Cup for India is amazing. But like I said, value has to be two-sided,” he added.
Kohli also opened up on his return to domestic cricket for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament earlier this year, where he scored 208 runs in just two appearances, including a century and a fifty. He revealed that the experience helped him reconnect with the pure joy of batting.
“There was not a single person at the Center of Excellence (in Bengaluru, which hosted the matches). I played for so long and I thought, will it be motivating enough? But the moment my intention changed, I want to play because I love playing. I just love batting. And I just want to focus on it. And I didn’t care. It’s not like I didn’t feel it,” he said.
Virat said the tournament made him feel like a youngster rediscovering the game.
“I was like, this isn’t about anybody else. It’s about me and the game. And that’s how it’s going to be. And the moment I feel like people are trying to make it difficult for me and be like, oh, but this and that. Either be clear and honest up front or shut up and let me play,” he added.
The batting icon also likened the uncertainty surrounding players’ futures to a normal working environment where opinions can swing drastically based on results.
“It’s like why? You either tell me on day one that I’m not good enough or I’m not needed. Or if you said I’m good enough and you say we don’t even think differently then shut up. You know, don’t,” he said.
“If you start operating up and down for results, you can never have a consistent attitude. And I’m not someone who behaves like that. Like I said, when I come to play, I know what I can give in terms of effort and performance,” he added.
Kohli remains one of the greatest ODI batsmen in the history of cricket. In 311 ODIs, he scored 14,797 runs at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93.82, with 54 centuries and 77 fifties.
Despite playing limited ODI cricket last year due to a packed international calendar, Kohli still finished as India’s highest run-scorer in the format with 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10, including three hundreds and four fifties. This year he already has 240 runs in three ODIs at an average of 80, with a century and a fifty.
After the IPL, Kohli is expected to return to India duty during the ODI series against Afghanistan from June 14.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
15 May 2026 14:05 IST
