Virat Kohli has finally addressed the growing discussions surrounding his retirement plans and the possibility of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup. The former India captain said he no longer wants to be in an environment where he must repeatedly prove his value to the team.
Speaking on the RCB podcast, the 37-year-old explained that his approach towards cricket has become very clear and straightforward. Kohli said he will continue playing only as long as he feels he can contribute meaningfully and the team management also believes in his role.
Kohli stated that mutual trust between a player and the team environment is extremely important. He added that he is not interested in continuing if he constantly feels the need to justify his place in the side.
The batting star also stressed that his commitment towards cricket has not reduced at all. According to Kohli, he still trains as hard as anyone else and remains fully prepared whenever the Indian team requires him.
He said he is willing to give complete effort for the team without hesitation. Kohli mentioned that even if the team asks him to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI match, he is physically and mentally ready for the challenge.
Kohli also made an important remark regarding the 2027 ODI World Cup. He revealed that he already knows where he stands about the tournament and would not continue playing international cricket without clarity about his role.
The senior batter further spoke about his return to domestic cricket for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this year. He described the experience as refreshing and said it helped him reconnect with the joy of batting without outside pressure or noise.
According to Kohli, playing domestic cricket reminded him why he originally fell in love with the game. He said the experience became purely about enjoying cricket again.
Kohli also highlighted the importance of clear communication within teams. He believes players should either receive complete backing from management or be informed honestly if the team is planning to move forward without them.
Despite playing limited ODI cricket last year, Kohli still ended as India’s highest run scorer in the format. In 311 ODI matches, he has scored 14,797 runs at an average of 58.71 along with 54 centuries.
Following the IPL season, Kohli is expected to rejoin Team India during the ODI series against Afghanistan beginning on June 14.
Here is the full video virat kohli reveal everything pic.twitter.com/XvsI1NUIyP
— Chronology (@Chronology1008) May 15, 2026
