2027 World Cup will be my last for India: Kohli

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 Australia. 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.

"For me, it's the last World Cup I'm going to play for India," Kohli ​. "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.

"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. "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," he said. "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. "Former captain Rohit Sharma, who also plays only ODIs ​for India, said he remained fully motivated by the prospect ​of another ⁠World Cup campaign.

"The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished," Rohit said. "As long as you're playing, there is always something to look forward to. ⁠And ​I'm looking forward to the World Cup.

"Kohli and Rohit ​were both named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies. The opening match will ​be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.