Indian cricket fans have been given a big reason to dream, as Mohammad Kaif has openly backed Virat Kohli to play all the way till the 2031 ICC World Cup at home. The former Indian batter has insisted that age is not the issue at all for Virat Kohli.
Kaif noted that there is only one thing that will decide his future in the international arena, and that is Kohli’s own hunger and enjoyment for the game. He even pointed out how Kohli’s current form with the bat after two ducks on the Australia tour has been nothing short of outstanding.
Mohammad Kaif backs Virat Kohli to play till the 2031 World Cup
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The former Indian captain smashed two centuries and three fifties in ODIs and then carried the same intensity into domestic cricket as well, scoring one century and one fifty for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. And Kaif feels this excellent run of form clearly shows that the fire is still burning high.
Mohammad Kaif told Ravish Bisht on his YouTube channel, “If Virat Kohli stays motivated, enjoys the game, and truly wants to keep playing, then he can easily continue for at least five more years. I am seeing this like if he himself wants to play, if he is having fun, and if the crowd is making noise, then I think he should play for at least 5 years.”
Age doesn’t matter for Kohli: Kaif
Kaif also highlighted how Kohli becomes a different player when he puts on the India jersey, chases targets, enjoys the crowd noise, and plays with freedom. Given that, Kaif feels “age really does not matter,” and Kohli should play another World Cup in front of the home crowd.
He further added, “People should not talk about him being 42 or 43. He is Virat Kohli. With the 2031 World Cup set to be played in India, the environment will only push him further.”
Furthermore, Kaif made it clear that the decision to continue till the 2031 World Cup has nothing to do with selectors or coaches, but it totally depends only on Kohli himself. If the motivation, joy, and hunger remain strong, Kaif feels there is no reason why Kohli cannot continue at the top level for at least five more years and even feature in the 2031 ICC World Cup.
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The former Indian batter further stressed, “From what I can see, he has at least five strong years left, provided his fitness, joy, and hunger come from within. This has nothing to do with selectors or coaches. It depends only on Virat Kohli himself.”
No one can drop Kohli
Kaif strongly believes that Kohli’s fitness will never be a problem. The only real question, according to the cricket pundit, is about form, and even there, he has no doubts, especially in ODIs, where Kohli has been one of the greatest batters the game has ever seen. He stressed that there will be nothing like that; people will be waiting to drop Virat because of poor form.
He signed off by saying, “His fitness will never be a concern because he will always stay ahead in that area. The problem will be his form. And in ODI, everyone knows he is a legend. So, I am not worried about his form as well. No one will be able to drop him. The way Virat Kohli approaches and plays this format, dropping him will not happen.”
According to @MohammadKaif Virat @imVkohli Kohli can play 2031 World Cup, nobody can take decision on Virat Kohli considering his form and fitness #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/d3i2kew1je
— Ravish Bisht (@ravishbofficial) January 14, 2026
