Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has expressed full confidence that Virat Kohli is determined to represent India at the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, emphasising that the former captain thrives under pressure and remains focused on performing at the highest level. Kohli is set to begin his first assignment with the national side after a long break during a challenging ODI tour of Australia, starting with three matches in Perth this Sunday.

The venue evokes mixed memories for Kohli — last year, he scored a century in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Perth, but the series eventually ended with one of his lowest overseas returns, leaving him hungry for redemption.

In May, Kohli had announced his retirement from the Test format, alongside longtime teammate Rohit Sharma. While both stars return after several months away from competitive cricket, questions persist about their role in the ODI setup, particularly with Shubman Gill taking over as India’s 50-over captain for the Australia tour. Kohli also faces scrutiny for joining the series without any preparatory matches.

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Speaking on Instagram, Dinesh Karthik revealed that Kohli has been quietly but consistently working on his game during the break, including a dedicated training stint in London. “In London, he was training during this big layoff that he’s had after a long time in his life. And I also know he was practising cricket easily, two to three sessions a week,” Karthik said.

Dinesh Karthik sees this disciplined preparation as a clear sign of Kohli’s intent to remain at the top level and prepare for the next ODI World Cup, scheduled in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in 2027. “That tells you the man is serious about wanting to play this World Cup,” Karthik added.

Highlighting Kohli’s ability to deliver under pressure, Dinesh Karthik stressed that his presence brings stability and confidence to the team. “And if he is around, there is no tension, according to me, because he knows what it takes to perform under pressure. He’s done that time and time again, and I’m very confident he will do it again,” Karthik said.

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India will start the tour with three ODIs in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney, followed by five T20Is, which Kohli and Rohit are expected to skip. Both senior stalwarts are slated to return later in December for three ODIs against South Africa, continuing their journey in limited-overs cricket.