India star confirms ICC Men's CWC27 will be his last

India batting great Virat Kohli has confirmed that the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup to be held in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe will be his last one.

“For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India. And that is my motivation.

"And of course, the goal is absolutely to win the World Cup. And whatever it takes, I’m absolutely ready," Kohli told JioStar in an interview.

Kohli who is just shy of 15,000 runs in the format has appeared in four ODI World Cups for India, finishing as a winner in 2011.

The veteran who announced his retirement from Tests and T20I cricket, has his eyes set on the 50-over World Cup.

“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it’s about 10 games at a T20 level of intensity. 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,” Kohli said.

Kohli has been one of the most productive batters in World Cup history. He has played 37 ODIs in the World Cup, scoring 1,795 runs at an average of 59.83, including five hundreds and 12 fifties, with a top score of 117.

In his overall ODI career, he has scored 14,941 runs in 302 innings at an average of 58.59 with 54 centuries and 79 fifties. His highest score is 183 with a strike rate of 93.95.

“The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished. As long as you’re playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I’m looking forward to the World Cup, looking at what lies ahead for me,” Rohit told JioStar.

“When the World Cup is played, when we play an ICC tournament, it has its own unique challenge, because you face different opponents, you play at different venues.

"So, you have to prepare differently, think in a different way and that is the challenge," he added.

Sharma is yet to win the 50-over World Cup and having been on the losing side in the final in the 2023 edition as the captain of India, he will be keen to add the ODI World Cup winners' medal to his kitty.

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