Virat Kohli still has unfinished business when it comes to the ODI World Cup.With the 2027 edition potentially being his last, the former India captain wants to end his World Cup career with the trophy.
Kohli has a personal dream of playing a match-winning innings in the final, especially while chasing a big target. But when it comes to choosing between personal glory and winning the World Cup, the trophy will always come first for him.
Kohli’s dream for his last World Cup
“I’ve always been someone who, in every game that we play, wants to be the guy who wins us the game,” Kohli said as quoted by JioStar. “I’m made that way; that’s never going to go away from me.So, my goal is to win as many games as I can for the team, and my dream is to play a match-winning knock in the finals, while chasing a score.”
Kohli knows that scoring the winning runs or playing a big innings in a World Cup final would be a special moment. However, he made it clear that his own performance would take a back seat if India managed to lift the trophy.
“If it happens, great. If it doesn’t happen, we win the World Cup, I’ll be as happy because eventually, you understand that, as much as that competitive nature is there, it’s the last time you’re getting to play a World Cup.So, winning that trophy is the most important thing,” he said.
‘The bigger goal is always greater’
For Kohli, there is no greater feeling than staying at the crease and helping India win a big game. That competitive instinct is still very much alive, but he knows that winning the World Cup is the ultimate target.
“If I have the opportunity to do it, as an individual staying there out in the middle, there’s nothing more satisfying as a batsman. You visualise yourself pulling the team out of trouble.And that’s what makes you compete at this level. So, I don’t want to let go of that competitiveness. But yeah, the bigger goal is always greater,” he added.
Kohli recalls 2023 World Cup final heartbreak
The 2023 World Cup final remains a painful memory for Kohli. India had won 10 games on the trot before losing to Australia in the final in Ahmedabad.
Kohli admitted that the defeat stayed with him for a long time. He also revealed that he had started thinking about a big score before his innings ended on 54.
“Yes, there is a little bit. Before we won the IPL in 2025, I used to get flashbacks of the 2016 final. I feel the same about the World Cup final as well.I was playing on 54 and had set myself up for a big hundred; like, if I got 140-150, we would be in a great position to win that game. But as soon as I played on, it was very tough to process for many days. And you keep thinking about it.”
Kohli also spoke about the atmosphere inside India’s dressing room during the tournament. Despite losing Hardik Pandya early in the campaign, the team continued to believe that it had what it took to win the title.
“That whole World Cup was great; the environment was phenomenal.Within the team, you could see the camaraderie; everyone was happy playing for each other. Even after losing someone like Hardik early on, we never spoke about what would happen next, although it was a big loss in terms of what he brings. But Shami came, and you know what he can do.”
“So, everyone had a feeling that it was our World Cup. There was a different energy altogether, and then when the game shifts like that, it’s very difficult to process.”
Kohli does not call himself the best ever
Despite his incredible career and numbers, Kohli does not believe he should be called the greatest batter ever.
He pointed out that cricket has produced great players across different eras, and statistics alone cannot always tell the full story.
“I don’t consider myself the best ever. Different players have existed in different times of the sport, and they’ve done some amazing things, but might not have accumulated those kind of numbers, and some have numbers which are way better than me.”
For Kohli, the most important part of his career has been the impact he has had on the team rather than his individual records.
“But I guess, apart from this, everyone’s main goal eventually is to create enough impact.I’ve been fortunate enough to have played for so long, and of course, when you’re motivated to do well over that period, you end up performing more often than not.”
He added that his focus has always been on helping India achieve the desired result and that his experience, fitness and motivation continue to drive him.
“But eventually, the end goal has always been to contribute towards the betterment of the team and take the team towards the result that we want? As long as that answer is yes, and you mix up experience, your fitness, game awareness and motivation all together. So, I’m blessed that it’s still there, and I continue to be excited to play for the country, which is a great honour,” he said.