Virat Kohli says he still wants to play the 2027 World Cup, but only if he’s valued without needing to constantly prove his worth. Speaking on RCB’s podcast, the 37-year-old warned against an “environment” that questions his value, stressing that he prepares intensely and stays only when the team setup believes he adds value. With his ODI appearances now scarce, he pointed to his recent Vijay Hazare return—scoring a hundred—and framed it as playing for love, not to silence critics.
India have retained the No. 1 position in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings after the annual update, but their cushion is now razor-thin. India sit on 118 rating points, slipping by one, while New Zealand remain second with 113. Australia stays third on 109. South Africa climbed to fourth with 102, overtaking Pakistan (98). The rankings heavily weight matches since May 2025 and shape direct qualification prospects for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
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India has retained the top position in the ICC Men’s ODI team rankings after the annual update, with Australia staying third. South Africa has surged into the top four. The rankings carry major weight for direct qualification to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with the top eight teams by March 31, 2027 automatically qualifying.
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