Virat Kohli Confirms 2027 World Cup Will Be His Last for India
As India opens its ODI series against West Indies, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return to the playing XI while Kohli reveals his plans for the upcoming World Cup.
India's sports landscape is currently focused on multiple fronts, with the Prime Minister recently celebrating medal successes at the Asian Games, including a silver for Tajinderpal Singh in Men's Shot Put and a gold for the Women's Kabaddi Team. Meanwhile, domestic preparations are continuing ahead of the next international cycle, as the Sports Authority of India is scheduled to hold selection trials for men's and women's wrestling in Mumbai on September 30.
England won the toss and chose to bat against Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third one-day international on Saturday, setting up a winner-takes-all contest after the teams split the first two matches (AP India). The decision to bat first placed immediate pressure on the Sri Lankan attack to make early inroads on what was expected to be a good batting surface.
Earlier in the day, Australia elected to field against South Africa in a must-win ODI of their own, backing their bowlers to restrict the hosts and chase under lights (AP India). The result of that match carried direct implications for the series standings, with the tourists needing a victory to stay alive.
In Thiruvananthapuram, India opened their three-match ODI series against West Indies on Sunday with captain Shubman Gill winning the toss and opting to bowl first at the Greenfield International Stadium (AP India). The home side handed a debut to spin all-rounder Naman Dhir while welcoming back Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the playing XI for the first time since the tour of England two months ago (Indian Express). Both veterans, who now feature exclusively in the 50-over format, are building toward the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Kohli, 37, confirmed on Saturday that the upcoming World Cup will be his last for India. "For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India," he told broadcaster JioStar. "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" (Google News India). The leading century-maker in ODI history with 54 hundreds, Kohli has amassed 14,941 runs in the format, second only to Sachin Tendulkar. Rohit Sharma, also 37, echoed the sentiment, saying the thought of his "business" being finished would never cross his mind as long as he is playing (Google News India).
West Indies captain Shai Hope acknowledged the scale of the challenge facing his side, who have not won a bilateral ODI series in India since 2006. "We always say we haven't beaten this team in 20 years or 15-plus years," Hope said ahead of the opener. "Playing India in their backyard is always a challenge, and it's one that we definitely need to grasp and embrace" (Google News India). The tourists, ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings, arrive after a 1-1 Test series draw against Pakistan and a 3-2 ODI series loss to New Zealand.
Weather loomed as a significant factor in the series opener. The India Meteorological Department forecast a partly cloudy sky with rain probability peaking around 50 percent at the scheduled 2 PM start before easing through the evening (Google News India). No reserve day is scheduled; a washout would push the series to the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30, followed by the finale in New Chandigarh on October 3.
Away from the 50-over circuit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tajinderpal Singh on winning silver in the men's shot put at the Asian Games and the women's kabaddi team on securing the gold medal (PIB). The Sports Authority of India is set to conduct selection trials for men's and women's wrestling in Mumbai on September 30 as the domestic calendar shifts toward the next international cycle (PIB).
AP India·Indian Express·PIB