Virat Kohli's biggest enemy dwells on ICC World Cup 2027 participation

Virat Kohli has already retired from Test and T20 International cricket. Now, the former Indian captain will be seen playing only One Day Internationals (ODIs), and he is likely to return to action later this year when the team travels to Australia for a white-ball series.

But with him turning 36, there’s growing talk that the dashing right-handed batter might not be part of India’s squad for the ICC World Cup 2027 in South Africa. Some believe that the Indian cricket team is likely to give more chances to younger players to prepare them for the ICC World Cup 2027.

Chetan Sharma shuts down doubts about Virat Kohli’s ODI future

Amidst the speculations, former Indian chief selector Chetan Sharma has shared his views on Virat Kohli’s chances to play his last World Cup in 2027. Sharma has stressed that age is just a number, and it must not be the main reason to drop a player like Kohli.

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The former Indian chief selector has stressed that if Kohli is fit and still performing well, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t play in the ICC World Cup 2027. Notably, Kohli was last seen in action for India earlier this year when the team won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in the UAE.

Chetan Sharma was quoted as saying by Sports Yaari: “If Kohli is fit, then why shouldn’t he play? Look, age is just a number. If the selectors believe that a player is fit & Virat himself feels that his body is fine, then he should definitely play.”

India would need Virat Kohli at the ICC World Cup 2027: Chetan Sharma

Meanwhile, the former chief selector made it clear that what matters most is whether a player is helping the team win matches. Sharma reiterated that if Kohli continues to help India win the matches, then he should be in the 2027 ICC World Cup squad.

He further explained, “Whether a player is 20 years old or 39, if he is scoring runs and winning the matches for the team, then he is the player you need. The selectors would need a player like Virat who can contribute to the team’s success.”

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Virat Kohli knows himself better than anyone else: Chetan Sharma

However, the former Indian cricketer said that the final decision will be taken by the national selectors and Virat Kohli himself, but he will play only if he can still win matches for India.

Sharma signed off by saying, “Now, the final decision lies with either the selectors or Virat himself. But I know Virat; he will only step onto the field when he is fully confident that he can win matches for India. Don’t worry about Virat. He knows himself better than anyone else, and the selectors will also do their job well.”

Notably, Kohli made his ODI debut in 2011. Since then, the Indian batting maestro has played 302 ODI matches.

So far in his ODI career, he has scored 14,181 runs at an impressive average of 57.88. He has 51 centuries and 74 half-centuries to his name in 50-over cricket.