Virat Kohli confirms 2027 edition will be his 'last World Cup for India'

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kohli-virat/U7w3X0qp/"]Kohli[/a], the leading century-maker in ODIs with ‌54 hundreds, retired from T20 internationals and Test cricket earlier and now ‌represents [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] only in the 50-over format.[/p][p]The 37-year-old batter, ‌who has scored 14,941 runs in one-day internationals, second only to Sachin ‌Tendulkar's 18,426, won the World Cup on home soil in ‌2011 before suffering defeat in the 2023 final against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a].[/p][p]The 2027 edition, to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia ‌in October to November, will be Kohli's fifth ⁠ODI World Cup.[/p][p][b]"For me, ‌it's the last World Cup I'm going to play for India,"[/b] Kohli ​told broadcaster JioStar on Saturday.[/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][p]Kohli said ⁠the demands of a ​50-over World Cup made it one of cricket's toughest challenges, particularly with the tournament set to be played away from home.[/p][embed guid="bb9be86a-1d47-4451-b6db-9a66c21fcb02" url="https://x.com/cricinfo/status/2103776598302634374" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. ‌Because now, it's about 10 games at a Twenty20 level of intensity,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]"But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament and World Cup is a big deal. Also, now it's in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you."[/p][p]Former captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sharma-rohit/zBLBQRyA/"]Rohit Sharma[/a], who also plays only ODIs for India, said he remained fully motivated ‌by the prospect of another World Cup campaign.[/p][p][b]"The thought will ​never cross my mind that the business I had ‌is finished,"[/b] Rohit said.[/p][p][b]"As long as you're playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I'm looking forward to the World Cup."[/b][/p][p]Kohli and Rohit were both named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series ⁠against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/west-indies/jTD1lMfO/"]West Indies[/a]. The opening ⁠match will be played ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/cricket/india-fcOzl2uI/west-indies-jTD1lMfO/?mid=YRMrSrHM"]in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.[/a][/p]