Virat Kohli has confirmed that next year's 50-over World Cup will be his final outing for India, and he is determined to give everything he has to help the team lift the trophy. The 37-year-old batting great, who holds the record for most ODI centuries with 54 hundreds, has already stepped away from T20 internationals and Test cricket. Now, he only plays for India in the 50-over format.

Kohli, who has scored 14,941 runs in one-day internationals, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 18,426, was part of India's victorious 2011 World Cup campaign on home soil, but felt the pain of defeat against Australia in the 2023 final. The 2027 edition, set to be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November, will be Kohli's fifth ODI World Cup.

"For me, it's the last World Cup I'm going to play for India," Kohli 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." Kohli admitted that the demands of a 50-over World Cup make it one of cricket's toughest challenges, especially with the tournament being played away from home.

"The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. Because now, it's about 10 games at a Twenty20 level of intensity," he said. "But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament, and the World Cup is a big deal. Also now, it's in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you." Former captain Rohit Sharma, who also plays only ODIs for India, said he remains fully motivated by the prospect of another World Cup campaign. "As long as you're playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I'm looking forward to the World Cup." Kohli and Rohit were both named in India's squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies. The opening match will be played in Thiruvananthapuram.