Virat Kohli: It’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India and the goal is absolutely to win whatever it takes

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Rohit_and_Kohli (PC:X)

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who now play just one format at the highest level, are keen to walk the extra mile to achieve success at the next year’s ODI World Cup. Speaking to JioStar ahead of the new home season starting on Sunday, Kohli and Rohit shared their thoughts on the challenge of playing an ICC tournament, while looking ahead to the showpiece event in South Africa in 2027. The three-match ODI series against the West Indies starts tomorrow.

“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything,” said Kohli. “Because now, it’s about 10 games at a T20 level of intensity. But you are playing 2.5 T20 games in one day. And to maintain that intensity for 10 games in a big tournament and World Cup is a big deal. Also now, it’s in foreign conditions. It takes a lot out of you. For me, it’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India. And that is my motivation. 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.”

For Rohit, winning the ODI World Cup remains an unfinished business. In 2023, he came close, but India under his captaincy stumbled at the final hurdle.

“The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished,” he said. “As long as you’re playing, there is always something to look forward to. And I’m looking forward to the World Cup, looking at what lies ahead for me. When the World Cup is played, when we play an ICC tournament, it has its own unique challenge, because you face different opponents, you play at different venues. So, you have to prepare differently, think in a different way and that is the challenge.”

The post Virat Kohli: It’s the last World Cup I’m going to play for India and the goal is absolutely to win whatever it takes appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.



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