According to a recent report, 36-year-old Indian national cricket team great batsman Virat Kohli is involved in the plans for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is scheduled to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. South Africa will host 44 matches across eight venues, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the remaining 10 matches.
Virat Kohli in India’s 2027 World Cup plans
The wait for Virat Kohli’s return to international cricket is going to end soon. He will wear the Indian jersey for the first time since March 2025 in the upcoming series against Australia.
The first match of the ODI series between India and Australia will be played in Perth on Sunday, October 19, and the next two matches will be held in Adelaide and Sydney on October 23 and 25.
Kohli, now a single-format player at the international level, has retired from T20I cricket in 2024 and Test cricket at the beginning of the year. Being an ODI player, Virat Kohli’s presence in international cricket has reduced considerably as 50 over matches are rarely played these days.
At the age of 36, Kohli is still at the peak of his fitness, and has received a lot of support from former cricketers to extend his ODI career and give him a chance to play in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have hinted at Virat Kohli’s uncertain ODI future and urged him to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) to stay in the race for the next 50-over World Cup.
Recently, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla had said that the Australia tour will not be a farewell series for Kohli, and now a top source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India has said that the great modern-day batsman is included in the plans for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
News24 journalist Vaibhav Bhola wrote on Twitter, “Breaking news: Virat Kohli in 2027 World Cup plans – top BCCI source.”
Big breaking news:
Virat Kohli is in plans for 2027 World Cup – Top BCCI source. pic.twitter.com/Ps4qajbe6x
-Vaibhav Bhola (@Vibhubhola) 16 October 2025
We were literally dying and he is scoring one or two runs and going on – Australia bowler Virat Kohli on
Virat Kohli has scored 2451 ODI runs against Australia at an average of 54.46 and in Australia he has scored 1327 runs in 29 ODI matches at an average of 51.03.
Recently, speaking on a podcast shared by cricket.com.au, Kane Richardson recalled India’s ODI match against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2017, where Kohli scored 92, making life hell for the Australian team in the scorching heat.
“I remember there was a game in Kolkata where it was very hot. Matty Wade (Matthew Wade) was keeping – I remember he literally vomited when I was running. Jamps was giving him a drink and I said, ‘Somebody’s running to bowl,’ and Jamps says, ‘Patty, the bowler is running.’ And he’s like, ‘I know,’ still sitting there.
Richardson said, “If the ball got to him, he would get up. We were literally dying and he’s clipping one or two and running it like he’s walking on a treadmill in air conditioning.”
Richardson said that the Australian team was so tired that they were unable to even speak and Kohli, on the other hand, was at another level in terms of fitness. He said:
“You can talk to anyone who was there that day – there’s footage of people wearing ice necklaces, and no one had face paint on. No one was speaking. If you got a wicket, it was complete silence because no one had the energy.”
“He wouldn’t be one that sticks out to a lot of people in terms of being the most high-profile. But I just remember, that’s when I was like – this guy is on a completely different level, no matter what the situation.”
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