Amid questions over his form and fitness following a long break from competitive cricket, Dinesh Karthik has expressed full faith in Virat Kohli’s ability to anchor India’s 2027 ODI World Cup campaign in South Africa.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting coach called Kohli the “glue” that holds the Indian batting lineup together and insisted the veteran still has much to offer.
In a video shared on Instagram, Karthik praised Kohli’s consistency and composure, explaining why the 36-year-old remains indispensable for India’s plans. “Why is Virat Kohli so important for India’s chances for the 2027 ODI World Cup win? If you just see how India have played for some time now, he is the fulcrum. He is the most important glue in that team around which everybody else plays — the likes of Gill, Rohit, Iyer, and Rahul. They all play attacking, positive cricket because they know Virat Kohli is there to absorb pressure in case things go wrong. He will take care of it from one end,” Karthik said.
“He knows how to handle pressure. He’s done it time and again. He is a chase master and is keen to play that World Cup — that is number one,” Karthik added.
The former cricketer backed his assessment with recent examples from the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Kohli finished as India’s second-highest run-scorer. “Since the 2023 World Cup, Virat has scored 1,098 runs in 21 matches at an average of 64.58. Against Pakistan, he hit a century after an early wobble, and in the semifinal versus Australia, he steadied things with a crucial 84 when we were 43/2,” Karthik noted.
Karthik, who recently played in South Africa’s SA20 league, also emphasized Kohli’s proven record in South African conditions. “The event is going to be played in October-November — the early part of their summer. The pitches will be spicy, with bounce and movement. The last time India toured in 2018, Kohli got 558 runs in six ODIs, while the next best had 323. That shows his ability to dominate in testing conditions,” he explained.
Despite a long layoff since the IPL 2025 final, Kohli has been working hard to stay ready. “In London, during this break, he was training — two to three sessions a week. That tells you he’s serious about wanting to play this World Cup,” Karthik said.
With 14,181 ODI runs — second only to Sachin Tendulkar — Kohli’s numbers speak for themselves. As India begins its rebuild ahead of the 2027 World Cup, Karthik’s confidence in the veteran suggests that Kohli’s era as India’s batting anchor is far from over.
