Former great warns Kohli to find form fast as pressure mounts ahead of 2027 World Cup

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri has cautioned Virat Kohli to rediscover his form swiftly, warning that time is running out for the veteran batter to secure his place in India’s ODI plans for the 2027 World Cup.

Despite his illustrious career and record-breaking century tally in ODIs—Kohli’s favourite format—past achievements may hold little weight as selectors focus on fitness and current performance. While fitness has rarely been a concern for the 36-year-old, his recent struggles have raised questions about his spot in the lineup.

Returning to international cricket after a seven-month break since the Champions Trophy, Kohli was expected to resume his prolific run against one of his favourite opponents, Australia. However, his farewell tour Down Under has been disappointing so far. He was dismissed for an eight-ball duck by Mitchell Starc in Perth last week, followed by another duck off Xavier Bartlett in Adelaide on Thursday—marking the first time in his ODI career he has been out for zero in consecutive innings.

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With only the Sydney ODI remaining in the series on Saturday, Shastri has urged Kohli to respond strongly. In a recent interaction after India’s innings in Adelaide, Shastri said, “The next World Cup is still a long way off for him. He’ll have to get some form pretty quickly. The competition for places in Indian white-ball cricket is fierce—no one can afford to relax, whether it’s Virat, Rohit, or anyone else.”

Indian cricket has entered a transition phase in recent months, with a new generation of players emerging. Young talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, and Abhishek Sharma are pushing for spots in the ODI squad, making selection even tougher for veterans.

“It’s not going to be easy; there’s strong competition. Kohli has missed out again and looked a bit tentative with his footwork. It doesn’t happen often—his one-day record is phenomenal—but getting two ducks in a row will definitely disappoint him," said Shastri.