Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir [Source: AFP]With IPL 2026 moving towards its final stage, attention in Indian cricket is slowly shifting back to the international calendar. The tournament will conclude on May 31, after which Team India will begin preparations for an important phase that includes major ICC events in both ODI and T20I cricket.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, has already started discussing the team’s long-term plans. One of the biggest talking points around Indian cricket at the moment is whether Virat Kohli will continue till the 2027 ODI World Cup.It is important to mention that the 2027 World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. While South Africa and Zimbabwe previously co-hosted the tournament in 2003, Namibia will host World Cup matches for the very first time. For India, the tournament is expected to be a major target after the heartbreak of the 2023 ODI World Cup final defeat in Ahmedabad.New Development On India’s White-Ball CaptaincyIt is vital to note that, according to recent reports, India could soon adopt a single captain for both ODI and T20I cricket. According to NDTV Sports, the selectors are seriously considering Shreyas Iyer as a future white-ball captain across both formats.Earlier reports (TOI) claimed that Shreyas Iyer was being considered only for the T20I captaincy, replacing Suryakumar Yadav.Also Read: Shreyas Iyer Gets Green Signal For India Captaincy After IPLHowever, the latest developments indicate that the management may now prefer a single leader for India's limited-overs teams in order to ensure stability and consistency before the 2027 World Cup.Virat Kohli Expected To Remain Part Of India's 2027 World Cup PlansAs per the latest reports, Virat Kohli’s place in India's ODI setup appears secure. According to recent discussion on Times of India’s cricket analysis segment ‘Beyond the Boundary,’ senior journalists indicated that Kohli is very likely to feature in the 2027 ODI World Cup.Virat Kohli is fully focused on ODI cricket after stepping away from T20Is and Tests. His experience and consistency are viewed as important factors for India’s World Cup campaign.Over the years, Kohli has remained one of the most reliable performers in ODI cricket. Despite concerns about age, the former India captain has continued to show excellent fitness and a hunger for runs.Watch the video here: Kohlistic🔥 @Kohlistic18 Virat Kohli is 110 % playing 2027 CWC.. TOI sports... May 8, 2026, 8:09 PM Kohli’s ODI Form Continues to ImpressVirat Kohli’s recent performances in ODIs have further strengthened his chances of playing the 2027 World Cup. Before IPL 2026, he delivered outstanding performances in series against South Africa and New Zealand.Against New Zealand, Kohli scored 240 runs in three innings at an average of 80 and a strike rate above 105. In the South Africa series, he was even more dominant, scoring 302 runs in three innings at an average of 151 and a strike rate above 117.His batting approach has also evolved in recent years. Virat Kohli has added more attacking intent to his game while maintaining the consistency. He has also maintained great form in the ongoing IPL 2026. In 10 innings, Kohli has scored 379 runs at an average of 58.50 and a strike rate of 164.Also Read: Cricket's Big 3 Member Announces Historic Series For Pakistan Cricket Team
