How many ODIs can Virat Kohli play before 2027 World Cup?

The legendary Virat Kohli will now play only One-Day Internationals (ODIs) after retiring from T20Is in 2024 and Tests this week. The former India captain announced his retirement from red-ball cricket via an Instagram post and finished his career with an impressive tally of 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85.

Fans have been wondering how many ODIs India are set to play before the all-important World Cup, which will be hosted in 2027 by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October-November.

The Men in Blue are set to play 27 ODIs leading up to the ODI World Cup. These matches will be played across nine series, each of which will consist of three games. India will play eight nations in these bilateral tours. The oppositions are - Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. The Kiwis will face India twice before the marquee event. Six of all these series will be at home, while three will be away - Bangladesh, Australia, and England.

Here's India's ODI calendar before the ODI World Cup 2027

August 2025 - Tour of Bangladesh

The Men in Blue will return to the ODI format for the first time since their Champions Trophy triumph in March. They will travel to Bangladesh to play a three-match ODI series in spin-friendly conditions.

October-November 2025 - Tour of Australia

The Rohit Sharma-led side will face a stern test when they take on a formidable Australian team Down Under in October-November. Finalists in the previous edition of the ODI World Cup, India and Australia, will look to get some valuable match practice under their belts.

November-December 2025 - Home series versus South Africa

The Indian side will then return home to host South Africa for three One-Dayers. Both teams have fared well in the recent ICC events, and they will look to try out different combinations and strategies leading up to the World Cup.

January 2026 - Home series versus New Zealand

The finalists of the 2025 Champions Trophy will face each other on Indian soil at the beginning of 2026. Fans can expect a riveting face-off between two consistent teams in world cricket.

June 2026 - Home series versus Afghanistan

Afghanistan, as a limited overs team, has been improving at an admirable rate as more and more talents keep enthralling the cricket fraternity. Their strong spin-bowling attack will look to make good use of the spin-friendly conditions in India and give the Indian side a run for their money.

July 2026 - Tour of England

India will be back on the road as far as ODI cricket is concerned in July 2026. They will travel to England to play three ODIs in testing conditions.

September-October 2026 - Home series versus West Indies

While the West Indies have been inconsistent in the ODI format in recent times, they will look to give India a run for their money, especially with several power hitters in their lineup.

October-November 2026 - Home series versus New Zealand

New Zealand will want to repeat their heroics from their memorable 3-0 whitewash of India in Test cricket in 2024 when they take on Rohit Sharma's men in a three-match ODI series in October-November 2026.

December 2026 - Home series versus Sri Lanka

India will host arch-rivals Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series to conclude their 50-over schedule for 2026. These three matches will be played in December. India will look to avenge the 0-2 loss they suffered at the hands of Sri Lanka in an ODI series in the Jewel Nation in 2024.

Kohli was the highest run-scorer in the previous edition of the ODI World Cup, which was held in India in 2023. He will look to play an important role for the two-time champions in the 14th edition of the global event.