Kohli will skip World Cup if he has to prove worth

India's Virat Kohli says he will not play in the 2027 Cricket World Cup if he needs to prove his worth to the team.

Former captain Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest 50-over batters in history and was part of the last India team to win the World Cup in 2011. He also played a key role in last year's Champions Trophy success.

The 37-year-old has retired from India's Test and T20 teams but remains involved in their 50-over side.

"If I can add value to the environment that I'm a part of and the environment feels like I can add value, I'll be seen," Kohli told the RCB Podcast.

"If I'm made to feel like I need to prove my worth and my value, I'm not in that space.

"When I arrive to play, I put my head down, I work as hard, if not harder, than anyone else. And I play the game in the right way.

"You want me to run from boundary to boundary for 40 overs in an ODI game, I will do that without a complaint. Because I prepare accordingly.

"I prepare for the fact that I will field 50 overs every ball like it's the last ball I'm going to play in my career, and I will bat that way and I will run between the wickets that way, and I will do everything possible for the team.

"After operating like this, if I have to be in a place where I have to prove my worth and value, that place is not meant to be for me. And I am very clear in my head from that perspective."

Kohli has played 311 one-day internationals and only Sachin Tendulkar (18,426) has scored more than his 14,797 runs, which have come at an average of 58.71.

The right-hander is renowned for being an expert at chasing down targets and his average climbs to 65.78 in the second innings of matches. In South Africa, where the 2027 World Cup is being held, he averages 76.38 from 20 ODIs.

In the interview, Kohli said some people are "trying to complicate it for me", though he did not specify who he was referring to.

"Look, if you go to your workplace, and if people say we believe in your abilities, and then a week later they start questioning the way you operate, it's like, why?" Kohli said.

"Either tell me on day one I'm not good enough or I'm not needed. Or if you've said I'm good enough and you say we're not even thinking otherwise, then be quiet."