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Virat Kohli isn’t done yet—not by a long shot. The Indian cricket icon has set his sights on the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, determined to end India’s 16-year wait for the coveted title. At 36, with a trophy cabinet already bursting, Kohli silenced retirement whispers at a recent Mumbai event, declaring his hunger to lift another ICC crown before calling it a day.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star was in the spotlight when the host prodded him about the “next big step” in his glittering career. “Staying in the present,” Kohli began, before dropping the mic: “Maybe try to win the next World Cup.” The crowd erupted, and why wouldn’t they? This is the man who’s carried India’s hopes time and again, and he’s not ready to step back from the chase.
Kohli’s resolve comes after a rollercoaster few years. He was the top run-scorer in the 2023 ODI World Cup, piling up runs like clockwork—only for India to stumble against Australia in the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. It was a heartbreak that echoed the semi-final exits of 2015 and 2019, stretching India’s ODI World Cup drought since MS Dhoni’s triumph in 2011. But Kohli’s not dwelling on the past. His recent Champions Trophy heroics—a century against Pakistan and a match-winning 84 in the semi-final against Australia—prove he’s still got the fire.
The chatter about his future kicked into overdrive after a lean tour of Australia late last year, where he managed just 190 runs in nine innings, often undone by deliveries outside off-stump. Reflecting on that disappointment before IPL 2025, Kohli admitted it stung. “The Australia tour felt the most intense,” he said. “But I don’t have the chance to correct it now. You have to make peace with what’s happened.” That introspection only fuels his drive for 2027—potentially his last shot at World Cup glory.
For now, Kohli’s letting his bat do the talking. In the ongoing IPL 2025, he’s off to a blazing start for RCB, smashing 90 runs in two games, including a half-century against defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders. It’s vintage Kohli: class, consistency, and a hunger that refuses to fade.
Retired from T20Is after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win, Kohli’s ODI mission is clear: bring the cup home. With 16 years of near-misses since Dhoni’s 2011 heroics, the weight of a nation rests on his shoulders—and he’s ready to carry it. Will 2027 be Kohli’s crowning moment? Indian fans are counting down, hearts pounding, hopes soaring.
Keep your eyes peeled as King Kohli gears up for his next conquest!
