Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers [Source: @BluntIndianGal/X.com]
After months of disappearance, former India captain Virat Kohli is back in the news again. After a cryptic tweet that ended up being a marketing stunt, Kohli sweated out in the nets, preparing for the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia.
AB de Villiers believes Kohli has ODI World Cup 2027 in sight
The upcoming ODI series vs Australia could be a trial for Kohli and even Rohit Sharma to solidify their spot in the squad. However, former South Africa legend and Kohli's teammate at RCB, AB de Villiers, believes that the veteran Indian batter is already eyeing the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“He’s sort of at a place now where he has to compartmentalise and prioritise what is important to him as a player. The 2027 World Cup comes to mind,” de Villiers told HT in an interview. “We all know how special it would be for Virat to lift the World Cup alongside Rohit and a few of his friends. I think all his focus is on that now," he added.
Why Kohli’s presence would be important for India in ODI World Cup?
Virat Kohli is known for his aggressive nature, whether it's about his batting or leading the team. It's his aggression that has made him what he is today. Of course, the hard work and immense practice are also factors, but being mentally strong is what he has achieved, which has helped him achieve success.
Also, the numbers he has accumulated over the years are enough to show why his presence makes India a favourite to lift the ODI World Cup trophy. The right-handed batter has played 302 ODI matches and has scored 14,181 runs in 290 innings so far at an impressive average of 57.88. That's not it; he has also smashed 51 centuries in ODIs, the most by any.
Kohli is in great form, as evident during the IPL 2025 earlier this year, where he scored 657 runs in 15 matches. The veteran batter would like to continue that form and do well in the upcoming Australia tour.