Indian cricket has a peculiar ritual hanging around its neck. The moment a legend turns 35 and over, the talks begin. “Might he retire soon?” “Could he be part of the next World Cup?” “Are we witnessing his decline already?”
And today, the question of Virat Kohli almost pops up in every dialogue about him – will he turn up for the ODI World Cup in 2027?
Nevertheless, perhaps that is not the right question.
Virat Kohli is the legend of the now
With all this going on about the future, maybe we are not realizing the present. Perhaps we are not remembering to take a moment and appreciate what is right before our eyes.
A phenomenal cricketer of the millennium, still very much alive, still very much aggressive, still very much capable of converting an ordinary ODI or IPL match into an unforgettable memory that will remain for centuries
Kohli’s latest two centuries against South Africa were not merely runs added to the total but were actually signals indicating the exact timing, discipline, passion, and above all, the unmatched capability to tackle problems under pressure.
Virat Kohli at 37 is not just playing one format in order to prove his critics wrong, but he is also playing because he simply loves the game, and that the spark inside him has not been snuffed out yet, although it may be a bit hard to spot.
We are always treating records and milestones as subjects of discussion. We present him in comparison with Sachin Tendulkar. We bandy about statistics. However, the real magnificence of Virat has never solely been about figures.
It is seen in the way he runs to the boundary for a ball as if it were the first run of his life. It is seen in the shining up of his eyes after a four. It is seen in the booming sound that comes out of him when the critical moment occurs. .
We may have to wait before we see a similar kind of passion again for a long time. Certainly, it won’t happen soon.
Indian cricket is previllaged to have someone like Virat Kohli
Having produced legends Indian cricket has and will produce more in the future. However, every great player is unique. Tendulkar was serene. Dhoni was composed.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli is fiery. Along with his introduction of new culture consisting of fitness, aggression, self-belief and professionalism, he also changed what Indian young cricketers could think of as a goal. This kind of impact is not given every decade. It may take sometimes centuries.
Obsessing over the 2027 World Cup is the viewpoint that misses the whole point. No one can predict how the coming two years will be.
The bodies of the players will be different. The priorities will be different. The cricket boards will be different. The game will also keep changing. Instead of trying to write one’s final chapter in advance why not just read one that is currently open?
Because one day, it will be very soon, Virat Kohli will go. There will be a last inning, a last cheer, and a last bat up.
And then we all will hope for just one more cover drive, one more chase and one more passionate celebration.
Greatness is not something that is only to be measured at the end. It is something that you feel in the moment. And at this point in time, the moment is still ours.
All of us are so much concerned about saying goodbye that we can’t even savor his presence.
So, it is better to forget about 2027 for a bit.
Get the television set on. The posture, the trigger movement, the straight bat, the loud call of “NO” during the wickets, all these will be seen. A king is there performing what he has done smoother than nearly all the ones who have played the game.
Because when Virat Kohli eventually takes the exit, the Indian cricket team will go on. It always does. But the aura that will be created due to his nonexistence will be felt more than any cheer.
And at that time, we will come to know that it was not only the runs that we had watched, but also history which was living in real time.
Savor his greatness while it continues. Savor it until the last chapter of his life is written.