India’s cricket star Virat Kohli has revealed that he has no plans of retiring from the ODI format anytime soon, as he sets his sights on winning the 2027 ICC World Cup. During a recent event, Kohli was asked about the next major goal in his career. His response left little doubt about his commitment to the ODI format. “The next big step? I don’t know. Maybe try to win the next World Cup,” he said, drawing cheers from the audience.
Kohli, 36, retired from T20I cricket after India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. With the next ODI World Cup more than two years away, discussions have grown around the future of senior players like Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
Kohli has won an ODI World Cup in 2011, a T20 World Cup in 2024, and two Champions Trophy titles in 2013 and 2025. However, he missed out on lifting the 2023 ODI World Cup, where India dominated the tournament but lost the final to Australia. Kohli was the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62. His consistency included three centuries and six fifties, but the trophy remained elusive. Kohli recently played a crucial role in India’s Champions Trophy win. He scored 218 runs in five matches at an average of 54.50, including a century and a fifty. His match-winning performances against Pakistan in the group stage and Australia in the semi-final were instrumental in India's triumph. If he plays in 2027, he could become the first Indian cricketer to win the title twice.
He will not be part of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after stepping away from the shortest format. However, he could feature in the 2027 World Test Championship final if India qualifies before aiming for the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Currently, Kohli is playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he has started the season in fine form. Kohli will be aiming to secure his first-ever IPL title this year and continue his strong run of performances in the tournament.