Virat Kohli locked in for 2027 World Cup, reveals BCCI

According to a recent report, the 36-year-old India National Cricket Team batting legend Virat Kohli is pretty much in the scheme of things for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 is set to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. South Africa will host 44 across eight venues, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the remaining 10 matches.

Virat Kohli in India's 2027 World Cup plans

The wait for the return of GOAT - Virat Kohli - to international cricket is about to end very soon. He will don the Indian jersey for the first time since March 2025 in the upcoming series against Australia.

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On Sunday, October 19, the ODI series opener between India and Australia will be played in Perth, and the next two games will be hosted by Adelaide and Sydney on October 23 and 25.

Kohli is now the single-format player at the international level, having retired from T20I cricket in 2024 and Test cricket earlier in the year. Being an ODI player has significantly reduced the presence of Virat Kohli in international cricket because very few 50-over matches are played these days.

At 36, Kohli is still at the peak of his fitness, and he has received great backing from former cricketers to extend his ODI career and give himself a shot to feature in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027

However, the BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have hinted at the uncertain ODI future of Virat Kohli and urged him to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) to keep him in contention for the next 50-over World Cup.

Recently, the BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla stated that the Australia tour won't be the farewell series for Kohli, and now a top source of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has said that the modern-day batting great is pretty much in the scheme of things for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.

"BREAKING NEWS: Virat Kohli Is Very Much In Scheme For 2027 World Cup - Top BCCI Source," the News24 journalist Vaibhav Bhola wrote on X.

BIG BREAKING NEWS :

Virat Kohli Is Very Much In Scheme For 2027 World Cup - Top BCCI Source. pic.twitter.com/Ps4qajbe6x

— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) October 16, 2025

We were literally dying and he is clipping a one or a two and running - Australia bowler on Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has scored 2451 ODI runs at an average of 54.46 against Australia, and in Australia, he has scored 1327 runs in 29 ODI matches at an average of 51.03.

Recently, speaking on a podcast shared by cricket.com.au, Kane Richardson recalled India’s ODI match against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2017, where Kohli scored 92 runs, making life hell for Aussies in scorching heat.

“I remember there was a game in Kolkata where it was so hot. Matty Wade (Matthew Wade) was keeping — I remember he literally threw up as I was running in. Zamps was giving him a drink and I was like, ‘Someone is running into bowl,’ and Zamps goes, ‘Patty, the bowler’s running in.’ And he’s like, ‘I know,’ still just sitting there.

“If the ball got hit to him, he’d just get up. We were literally dying and he is clipping a one or a two and running it like he's on a treadmill in air conditioning,” Richardson added.

You speak to anyone that was there that day — there’s footage of guys wearing ice necklaces - Kane Richardson

Richardson added that the Aussies were so tired that they were unable to speak, and Kohli, on the other hand, was on another level fitness-wise. He said:

“You speak to anyone that was there that day — there’s footage of guys wearing ice necklaces, and no one had colour in their face. No one was speaking. If you got a wicket, it was just complete silence because no one had energy.”

“That wouldn't be one that sticks out to many people in terms of being the most high-profile. But I just remember, that was when I was like — this guy's a completely different level, no matter the condition.”

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