Virat Kohli has expressed a strong desire to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup but is resolute about not being part of any setup that compels him to constantly validate his worth or value. Speaking on a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) podcast, Kohli indicated his reluctance to engage in environments where initial assurances of belief in one’s abilities are quickly followed by skepticism regarding their methods.
Reflecting on the current timeframe, Kohli, now 37, stated, “We’re in mid-2026. I’ve been asked so many times, ‘Do you want to play ’27?’ Why would I leave my home, get my stuff over, and be like, ‘I don’t know what I want.’ Of course, if I’m playing, I want to play cricket, I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing.”
Kohli’s recent form underscores his commitment, having registered three centuries and three half-centuries in his last seven ODI innings against New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia. He also featured in domestic 50-over matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 131 and 77 in two appearances. In the ongoing IPL 2026, he stands as the third-highest run-scorer, accumulating 484 runs from 12 innings, including a century and three fifties, at an impressive strike rate of 165.75.
“Today, my perspective is very clear,” Kohli affirmed. “If I can add value to the environment that I’m a part of, and the environment feels like I can add value, I’ll be seen. If I’m made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I’m not in that space.”
He elaborated on his unwavering dedication: “I’m being honest to my preparation and how I approach the game. I dedicate myself, work hard, and am immensely grateful for everything bestowed upon me in my cricketing career. I feel truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity. When I step onto the field, I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else, playing the game ethically. If you ask me to run boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI, I’ll do it without complaint because I prepare meticulously for it.”
Kohli further emphasized his commitment to fielding every ball in a 50-over game as if it were his last, batting and running between wickets with the same intensity, and contributing everything possible for the team. He concluded, “After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me. I am very clear in my head from that perspective.”
The celebrated batsman stated that he now plays purely for the love of the game, rather than to validate himself to others. “When I went back to play, I was very clear: I’m not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I’m going to play because I love playing the game. That’s how I approached the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well.”
He recounted the experience, noting the absence of officials at the BCCI’s Centre for Excellence in Bengaluru: “It was amazing. I initially wondered if it would be motivating enough after playing for so long. But the moment my intentions shifted to ‘I want to play because I love playing; I just love batting and I just want to focus on that,’ I became indifferent to the stage. I fielded the entire game, diving around, and felt like a child again. It became about me and the game, nobody else. The moment I feel people are trying to complicate things for me, being unclear or contradictory, they should either be clear and honest upfront or simply let me play.”
Kohli did not specify whether his concerns were directed at external critics or team management. He drew a parallel to a workplace: “If you go to your workplace, and people say we believe in your abilities, then a week later they start questioning your operations, it’s baffling. Either tell me on day one I’m not good enough or I’m not needed. Or if you’ve affirmed my competence and stated no doubts, then remain silent.”
He advocated against performance assessments based solely on results, acknowledging that “no one can guarantee performance in any space.” Kohli asserted, “If you start fluctuating based on results, you can never maintain a consistent stance. I don’t operate that way. When I play, I know the effort I can deliver.”
“No one can guarantee performance in any space. But in terms of effort and commitment, I know what I can deliver because I literally live my life like that,” he added. “I don’t suddenly start working hard two or three weeks before a series. I maintain this throughout the year. So, if I’m called to play for an upcoming series, I’m ready. I’m always ready because that’s my daily life. I work out, we eat well at home; it’s how I choose to live, not just for cricket. That’s where I stand.”
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