The cricket world is abuzz with speculation about Virat Kohli’s future, and now, none other than his Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor and former India teammate, Dinesh Karthik, has confirmed exciting news! Karthik recently shared that the 36-year-old batting maestro is rigorously preparing for a potential return in the 2027 World Cup. According to Karthik, Kohli dedicated himself to cricket training, participating in two to three sessions a week even during a significant break he took in London before the upcoming ODI series against Australia. ‘He is absolutely serious about playing the 2027 World Cup,’ Karthik stated.
Kohli’s legendary status in One Day Internationals is undeniable. He currently holds the record as India’s second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, boasting a staggering 14,181 runs from 302 matches and 290 innings. His remarkable consistency is reflected in his impressive average of 57.88 and a striking strike rate above 93, featuring an incredible 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries, with a personal best of 183. Even in 2023, Kohli showed glimpses of his brilliance, notching 275 runs in just seven innings at an average of 45.83, including a century and two fifties. His last major international outing was during India’s triumphant ICC Champions Trophy campaign in March, where he amassed 218 runs across five matches, highlighted by a magnificent century against arch-rivals Pakistan and a crucial 84 runs in the semifinals against Australia.
The King of Cricket has consistently dominated in Australian conditions, accumulating 1,327 runs in 29 ODIs at an outstanding average of 51.03 and a strike rate exceeding 89. His stellar performances down under include five centuries and six half-centuries, with a memorable unbeaten 133 as his highest. His recent encounters with Australia further underscore his consistency, with scores of 54, 56, 85, 54, and 84 in his last five innings against them. When playing in Australia, his recent five innings stand at equally impressive figures: 104, 46, 21, 89, and 63.
For the forthcoming ODI series, India’s formidable squad features Shubman Gill as captain, with the veteran Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer serving as vice-captains. The lineup also includes key players such as Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, and the promising Yashasvi Jaiswal.