“He’ Fully Ready for World Cup 2027” – Virat Kohli Backed by Childhood Coach

Virat Kohli marked a memorable return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy after nearly 15 years, smashing a superb 131 off 101 balls for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh.

The hundred came in a run chase and helped Delhi seal a four-wicket win. Kohli paced the innings calmly, mixing control with aggression, and finished the job without letting the pressure build.

This knock also put Kohli into an elite club. He became only the second Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 16,000 runs in List A cricket, another big milestone in a long and decorated career.

Kohli’s return to domestic cricket was keenly watched, especially after his decision to retire from T20Is and Tests. He is now focusing only on ODIs, with the 2027 World Cup firmly in his sights.

The next ODI World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, and Kohli sees it as his main international goal. His form suggests the ODI-only shift is working well for him.

Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma was full of praise after the innings and said the hunger is still very much there.

“He is in brilliant form. He batted very well and ensured Delhi’s victory,” Sharma said.

“He played domestic cricket after a long time, but still performed exceptionally well. He is the most consistent player in the Indian team and is fully ready for the World Cup,” Sharma added.

The numbers back up that confidence. In ODIs this year, Kohli has scored 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10 and a strike rate of 96.15.

His run includes three hundreds and four fifties, with two centuries and an unbeaten fifty coming in the recent ODI series in South Africa, where he was one of India’s standout batters.

Kohli will soon switch back to international duty in the ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara. Before that, he aims to help Delhi continue their strong run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.