Virat Kohli is not hanging up his boots after the 2027 ODI World Cup, despite what everyone thought, according to his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma. This bombshell completely reshapes the landscape for Indian cricket fans who were preparing for an emotional farewell.
The Retirement Rumors? Not So Fast.
For months, the general consensus among fans has been that senior Indian stars like Kohli and Rohit Sharma would likely call it a career after the 2027 ODI World Cup. It made sense, right? Rohit will be 40 by then, and Kohli will be pushing 39. Most people figured that tournament, set for October and November next year in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, would be their last dance in the India blue jersey. But Kohli’s longtime mentor, Rajkumar Sharma, is saying otherwise.
Sharma, who has coached Kohli since he was just eight years old at the West Delhi Cricket Academy, told ANI that Kohli himself hinted at continuing beyond 2027. According to Sharma, Kohli confirmed the 2027 World Cup would be his “last World Cup” for India, but critically, he did not say it would be his “last match for India.” That’s a massive distinction. Sharma clarified Kohli’s thought process, stating, “World Cups don’t come along every year. It only comes once in four years.” Remember, Kohli has already retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph and stepped away from Tests in May 2025, now focusing solely on the ODI format for India. His fitness and incredible run of form clearly play a huge part in this decision.
One Hundred Centuries and Beyond?
So, if not retirement, what’s next for the King? It looks like Virat Kohli might be eyeing one of the most monumental records in cricket: Sachin Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries. Kohli is already considered one of the greatest ODI batsmen ever, with 15190 runs in ODIs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar’s 18426. He has already surpassed Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries, now boasting an astounding 55 centuries in the format, and his ODI average of 58.64 is even better than Sachin’s 44.83.
Right now, Kohli has 86 international centuries across all formats. He needs 15 more tons to break Sachin’s incredible tally of 100. If he continues playing past the 2027 World Cup, as his coach suggests, the 2029 ICC Champions Trophy, which will be held in India, suddenly becomes a very real and achievable target. That tournament would give him the stage to potentially cement his legacy as the greatest century-maker in international cricket history. The stakes are immense, and the thought of him chasing that record for two more years is absolutely electrifying!
So, get ready, cricket fans, because it looks like we’re not saying goodbye to King Kohli in 2027. His quest for 100 international centuries and possibly the 2029 ICC Champions Trophy means there’s a whole lot more history for him to write. You better believe we’ll be watching every single ball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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