Virat Kohli confirms 2027 World Cup will be his final

Virat Kohli has confirmed the 2027 50-over World Cup will be his final tournament for India. The 37-year-old batter, who retired from T20 and Test cricket earlier, stated his singular goal is to win the trophy before he bows out, framing the upcoming home series against West Indies as a key step in that mission.

Kohli targets World Cup glory as his final act

Speaking to broadcaster JioStar on Saturday, September 26, 2026, Kohli made his intentions clear. "For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India," he said. "That is my motivation... The goal is absolutely to win the World Cup, and whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready." He highlighted the unique challenge of the 2027 event, to be hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, noting the intensity of playing ten games at a level he compared to "2.5 T20 games in one day." With 14,941 ODI runs and 54 centuries, Kohli stands second only to Sachin Tendulkar in the all-time lists and will be playing his fifth World Cup.

The 2023 final heartbreak still lingers

Kohli admitted the loss to Australia in the 2023 World Cup final still visits him. "Sometimes I get dreams about it," he revealed. He believed a big century from him could have been decisive. "What if I got 150?" Kohli pondered, suggesting a total of 300-plus would have been unbeatable given India's potent bowling attack that took 89 wickets in the campaign. The memory of dragging a Pat Cummins delivery onto his stumps, which triggered a middle-order collapse to 240, remains a powerful source of motivation.

Back in action with a new batting freedom

Kohli returns to the Indian side for a three-match ODI series against West Indies, starting Sunday, September 27, in Trivandrum. He enters the series in outstanding form, with three centuries and four fifties in his last ten ODIs. Kohli explained his recent success stems from a changed approach. "I am batting with greater freedom and taking more risks," he said, attributing this to the mental freshness of being a one-format player for the past 18 months. The series is a vital part of India's build-up to the 2027 World Cup.

A strong endorsement for captain Shubman Gill

Ahead of the series, Kohli offered a significant vote of confidence to India's young skipper, Shubman Gill. "He has got the right perspective and the right kind of intensity to lead the Indian team," Kohli stated. He praised Gill's tactical clarity and desire to lead correctly, predicting a long tenure. "He thinks of ways to get batters out... He is not shy to use different kinds of fields," Kohli added, impressed by the captain's proactive mindset.

An off-field impact from a simple meal

Away from the pitch, a personal choice by Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, had an unexpected impact. In September 2022, Anushka ordered chole bhature from a struggling Mumbai restaurant called Delhi Se for Kohli. The order, inspired by a comedian's Instagram recommendation, came as the owners were about to shut down with ₹18 lakh in debt. The publicity from serving the celebrity couple helped revive the business, which now claims to serve over 3,000 plates daily across four outlets.

• KEY TAKEAWAYS: Kohli will retire from ODIs after the 2027 World Cup; he remains haunted by his 2023 final dismissal; he is in prolific form ahead of the West Indies series; and he has firmly endorsed Shubman Gill's captaincy.

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