Virat Kohli eyes redemption at 2027 ODI World Cup, calls it his final chance

Virat Kohli said the 2027 ODI World Cup will be his last appearance for India, motivating him to leave everything on the field and pursue the trophy.

He acknowledged a sense of “unfinished business,” pointing to the painful loss to Australia in the 2023 final in Ahmedabad, where India entered as strong favourites.

Kohli compared that feeling to the IPL 2025 victory by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, recalling the 2016 final loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad and how similar memories linger.

He praised the team’s camaraderie during the 2023 tournament, noted Hardik Pandya’s early‑season injury, highlighted Mohammed Shami’s wicket‑taking contributions, and said the side believed the title was within reach.

Adding a personal touch, Kohli said scoring the winning runs in the final would be a fitting way to conclude his World Cup career.

Emphasising his competitive drive, he aims to win as many games as possible, targeting a 60‑70 % win rate, and dreams of delivering a match‑winning finishing knock in a chase.

Kohli stressed that simply lifting the trophy would be the ultimate satisfaction, fuelling his desire to impact matches in difficult situations.

Having retired from Tests and T20Is, he now focuses exclusively on ODIs, where his average has risen from 58.18 to 58.59 and his strike rate has climbed from 93.54 to 99.80 since the start of 2025.

He attributes the improvement to a freer mindset, less concern about external expectations, and a willingness to take calculated risks to accelerate scoring when conditions allow.

Kohli concluded that unlocking this freedom lets him stay longer at the crease and finish games strongly.

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