Virat Kohli Aims for World Cup Glory in Final ODI Season

Virat Kohli, India's renowned batsman, is determined to make a significant impact in his final ODI World Cup season. He dreams of delivering a match-winning performance in the finals while emphasizing that winning the trophy is the ultimate goal for the team. As he prepares for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, Kohli reflects on his competitive nature and his impressive ODI career, including his achievements and records. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, Kohli and the Indian team are gearing up for a series of matches to solidify their preparations. Discover more about Kohli's journey and aspirations in this article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 27, 2026, 11:56 IST

Kohli's Aspirations for the World Cup

Virat Kohli, India's star batsman, expressed his ambition to deliver a match-winning performance in a World Cup final, emphasizing that the primary objective for India is to secure the prestigious trophy. As he gears up for the upcoming home ODI series against the West Indies, Kohli shared his thoughts with JioStar.

In his conversation, Kohli highlighted his competitive spirit and his wish to be the player who leads India to victory. "I have always aimed to be the one who clinches the win for the team in every match we play. That drive is part of who I am and will never change. My goal is to contribute to as many victories as possible, and my dream is to play a decisive innings in the finals while chasing a target," he stated.

He added, "If that happens, fantastic. If not, but we win the World Cup, I will still be thrilled because, ultimately, you realize that this might be your last chance to play in a World Cup. Winning that trophy is what truly matters."

Kohli further remarked, "If I get the chance to perform in such a situation, there’s nothing more fulfilling for a batsman. You envision yourself rescuing the team from difficult situations, and that’s what fuels your competitiveness. However, the larger goal always takes precedence."

Kohli's ODI Achievements

At 37, Kohli has participated in two ODI World Cup finals, contributing to India's victory in the 2011 tournament and being part of the team that fell short against Australia in the 2023 final. The upcoming 2027 World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, will mark Kohli's final World Cup appearance. India is set to kick off their preparations with a three-match ODI series against the West Indies.

Having retired from T20Is and Test cricket, Kohli now focuses solely on ODIs. He has made an impressive start to the year, amassing 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64, including one century and three half-centuries. Currently, he boasts 85 international centuries, with 41 of those achieved on home soil. He is also just 110 runs away from breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of 6,976 ODI runs in home matches.

India's ODI Squad for the West Indies Series

The Indian ODI squad for the series against the West Indies features: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Naman Dhir.

Preparations for the 2027 World Cup

In addition to the West Indies series, India will play five ODIs in New Zealand and three against Sri Lanka later this year, followed by three ODIs against Zimbabwe at the start of 2027 as part of their World Cup preparation.