Virat Kohli once again proved that actions, or in this case, words, speak louder than speculations. On Thursday, October 16, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli broke his silence with a powerful social media post amid the growing debate over his ODI future.
The former captain of the Indian cricket team has already retired from Test and T20I cricket, but he is active in ODIs with the dream of playing the ICC World Cup 2027 in South Africa. However, Kohli has not featured for India since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win in March.
Virat Kohli breaks silence amid retirement rumors and uncertainty over ICC World Cup 2027
Amid his absence from competitive activities, fans and experts have wondered whether the 36-year-old will still be a part of India’s ODI plans, especially when the ICC World Cup 2027 is still two years away. Adding to the drama, even some current and former Australian cricketers speculated whether the upcoming three-match ODI series would be Kohli’s last tour.
Also read: Virat Kohli ready for 2027 World Cup, BCCI revealed
These speculations were further strengthened when the Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar and head coach, Gautam Gambhir refused to give any guarantee of Kohli’s selection in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2027. He neither denied nor confirmed his involvement.
Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar denied speculations of retirement
However, Ajit Agarkar dismissed rumors of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring after the Australia series. The Indian chief selector confirmed that he has successfully completed all the fitness requirements and remains an important part of India’s long-term ODI plans.
Agarkar clarified that Kohli and Rohit are fully committed to the team’s goals, but declined to comment on ICC World Cup 2026 selection. Gautam Gambhir said that the presence of Kohli and Rohit will be important during the challenging Australian tour.
The Indian head coach focused on the importance of staying in the moment and expressed confidence that both the legends will continue to perform well for India in this format in the years to come.
Virat Kohli’s cryptic post sends a bold message to the world
Amidst all the noise, Kohli came forward to share his side in a cryptic post. However, the former India captain had his own way of addressing the noise. Kohli posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Only when you decide to give up.”
Also read: Marnus Labuschagne returns to Australia, Cameron Green out of India ODI
The post instantly went viral, sending a clear message that Kohli’s work is not done yet. His words indicated that he remains hungry for more runs and wins in the India blue jersey. This was the assurance fans were waiting for, as Kohli is not ready to accept defeat just yet. According to an NDTV report, Kohli’s post was not just an advertisement; Instead, it was a response to the growing discussion over his future in ODI cricket.
You only really fail when you decide to give up.
– Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) 16 October 2025
Currently, the swashbuckling right-handed batsman is preparing for the three-match ODI series between India and Australia starting from October 19 in Perth. This will be their first appearance in India after winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year.
