India’s stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who now play just one format at the highest level, are keen to give it their all in the lead-up to next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Ahead of the new home season starting against the West Indies tomorrow, Kohli and Rohit weighed in on the challenge of playing an ICC tournament, while looking ahead to the marquee event in South Africa in 2027.
Ahead of the first ODI against West Indies tomorrow, Virat Kohli shared his thoughts on his motivation for playing the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027:
“The intensity of a 50-over World Cup is greater than anything. 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.”
Rohit Sharma opened up about his unfinished business with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup:
“The thought will never cross my mind that the business I had is finished. 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.”
