Biography
Virat Kohli, born on November 5, 1988, is an Indian international cricketer and a former captain of the Indian national team in all formats. Hailing from Delhi, Kohli is a right-handed batsman and sometimes bowls right-arm medium pace. He is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket across all formats. Known for his aggressive batting, outstanding fitness, and ability to consistently score runs, Kohli has earned much praise throughout his career.
Kohli started his international career in 2008, quickly becoming one of India's most reliable batsmen. He holds the record for the most centuries in One Day Internationals and is second for total international centuries with 85 across all formats. His leadership skills were acknowledged when he became captain of the Indian team, leading to the most Test wins and three consecutive Test mace retainments in the nation's history. He is the only batsman to surpass 900 rating points in all three international formats.
Throughout his career, Kohli has been key in India’s victories in major tournaments, including the 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup, and 2025 Champions Trophy. He also led India to victory in the U19 World Cup in 2008. In domestic cricket, he represents Delhi and plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League, where he is the leading run-scorer in the tournament's history.
Kohli has received many awards, making him the most decorated player in international cricket history. He has won ten ICC Awards, including the ODI Player of the Year award four times (2012, 2017, 2018, 2023) and the Cricketer of the Year award twice (2017, 2018). In 2018, he was the first player to win all three major ICC awards in the same year. Outside of cricket, he was honored with India's Padma Shri in 2017 and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2018. He is married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in 2018.
Before Fame
Virat Kohli was born and grew up in Delhi, where he started playing cricket at a young age. His commitment to the sport was clear early on; he kept training and playing matches even after his father passed away in 2006. This showed the mental toughness that later defined his career. Kohli made a breakthrough when he was selected to captain India's U19 cricket team, leading them to win the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
This early success opened opportunities in domestic cricket with Delhi and later in the Indian Premier League when he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore. His consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL caught the eye of national selectors, leading to his debut for the Indian senior team in 2008. His aggressive style and ability to chase down targets quickly made him a reliable middle-order batsman for India.
Key Achievements
- Most centuries in ODI cricket and second-most centuries in international cricket (85)
- Most successful Test captain in Indian cricket history with most wins and 3 consecutive Test mace retainments
- Leading run-scorer in Indian Premier League history
- Ten ICC Awards, the most by any international cricketer
- Captain of India's 2008 U19 World Cup winning team and key player in multiple senior World Cup victories
Did You Know?
- 01.He is the first player in cricket history to score 20,000 runs in a single decade
- 02.Kohli was named Cricketer of the Decade for the period 2011-2020
- 03.He is the only Indian batsman to achieve number one rankings in all three international formats
- 04.His marriage to Anushka Sharma in 2017 was one of the most high-profile celebrity weddings in India
- 05.He became the first player to win ICC Cricketer of the Year, ODI Player of the Year, and Test Player of the Year awards in the same year (2018)
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Padma Shri in sports | 2017 | — |
| Arjuna Award | 2013 | — |
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in Sports and Games | 2018 | — |
| Time 100 | 2018 | — |
| Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World | 2016 | — |
| Wisden Cricketer of the Year | 2019 | — |