Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir
Virat Kohli has said he does not want things to be “complicated” around his place in the Indian team and made it clear that if he is constantly made to prove his value, then that environment is “not meant” for him.Speaking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s podcast, Kohli said he still enjoys playing cricket and remains interested in playing the 2027 ODI World Cup, but only if there is clarity from both sides.“I am always ready because that’s my daily life. You know, I work out, we eat well at home. It is because I like living that way. It is not only to play cricket. So that is where I am. I mean, this 27 (2027 World Cup) chat and all that…I’ve been asked so many times, ‘do you want to play 27?’,” he said.“I know the answer. Like, why would I leave my home, you know, get my stuff over and be like, I don’t know what I want. Of course, if I’m playing, I want to play cricket. I want to carry on. Playing a World Cup for India is amazing. But as I said, the value has to be two sides,” he added.Kohli said his approach towards the game remains simple and honest.“My perspective is very clear. If I can add value to the environment that I am part of, and the environment feels that I can add value, I will be seen. If I am made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I am not in that space,” said Kohli.The 37-year-old now only plays ODI cricket for India after retiring from T20 Internationals in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025. With fewer ODI matches being played, his appearances for India have become limited.Kohli is expected to next play in India’s ODI series against England from July 14 to July 19. India head coach Gautam Gambhir has so far not given a clear answer on the future of Kohli and Rohit Sharma in ODI cricket.Kohli said he continues to prepare fully for the game.“I am being honest to my preparations, I am being honest to how I approach the game. I put my head down, I work hard. When I arrive to play, I work as hard if not harder than anyone else and I play the game in the right way,” he said.He also spoke about his commitment on the field.“I will do that because I prepare accordingly. I am prepared that I will field 50 overs. After operating in this way, if I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me,” he said.Kohli also recalled his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after nearly two decades during the 2025-26 season. He played two matches for Delhi, scored a century in one of them and became the fastest batter to complete 16,000 List A runs.“I was very clear in my head that I am not going out there to prove anything to anyone. I am going there to play because I love playing the game. That’s how I played Vijay Hazare as well. It was amazing.“I thought I have played for so long, do I have the motivation? But the moment my intention switched to ‘I want to play because I love the game’, I just loved batting. I felt like a child again. I was like this is not about anyone, this is about me and the game,” he said.Kohli also said he does not like uncertainty around selection and role clarity.“The moment I feel like people are trying to complicate it for me and be like ‘oh this and that’. Either be clear and honest and upfront or be quiet and let me play. If you go to a workplace and people say we believe in your abilities and a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it’s like why?” he said.“Either tell me on day one that I am not good enough or I am not needed but if you have said that I am good enough and that we are not thinking otherwise, then be quiet. If you start operating up and down because of results, you can never have a consistent stance,” he added.
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