Virat Kohli to retire from international cricket after 2027 World Cup

Virat Kohli, the leading century-maker in One Day Internationals (ODIs), announced that the 2027 World Cup will be his final tournament for India. Kohli stated that he is prepared to give his all in an effort to help the team win the trophy. Having already retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket, Kohli now only represents India in the 50-over format. The 37-year-old has scored 14,941 runs in ODIs, ranking second to Sachin Tendulkar's 18,426 runs. Kohli previously won the World Cup on home soil in 2011 and faced defeat in the 2023 final against Australia. The 2027 World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October to November, marking Kohli's fifth ODI World Cup appearance. "For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India," Kohli told broadcaster JioStar on Saturday. "That is my motivation and like, you know, to leave everything out there. And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup and whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready." Kohli highlighted the challenges of maintaining intensity throughout the tournament, especially as it will be played in foreign conditions. Former captain Rohit Sharma, who also plays only ODIs for India, expressed his continued motivation for the upcoming World Cup campaign, stating, "The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished." Both Kohli and Sharma have been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies, with the opening match scheduled for Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram.