Virat Kohli is an Indian international cricketer who is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He is the former captain of the Indian national team in all three formats of the game. Kohli is known for his aggressive batting style, his consistency across all formats, and his incredible fitness levels. He is also a popular figure off the field, with a large fan following around the world.
Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India, to a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Prem Kohli, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, is a housewife. He has an older brother, Vikas, and an older sister, Bhawna. Kohli's father passed away when he was just 18 years old, which had a profound impact on him.
Kohli started playing cricket at a very young age. He joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at the age of 9, and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his debut for the Delhi Under-15 team in 2002, and went on to lead the team to victory in the 2003 Polly Umrigar Trophy.
Kohli is married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. The couple got married in December 2017, and have a daughter named Vamika, who was born in January 2021. Kohli is a very private person, and he rarely talks about his personal life in public.
Kohli made his first-class debut for Delhi in 2006, at the age of 17. He scored a century in his second match, and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young batsmen in India.
In 2008, Kohli was selected in the Indian Under-19 team for the World Cup in Malaysia. He led the team to victory in the tournament, and was named the Player of the Tournament.
Kohli made his international debut for India in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in August 2008. He scored 12 runs not out in the match. Kohli made his Test debut for India against the West Indies in June 2011. He scored 4 runs in the first innings, and 15 runs in the second innings.
Kohli has had a stellar ODI career. He has scored over 12,000 runs in ODIs, at an average of over 50. He has also scored 43 centuries and 64 half-centuries in ODIs. Kohli is the fastest player to reach 10,000 runs in ODIs, and he is also the fastest player to reach 11,000 runs in ODIs.
Kohli has also played a key role in India's success in ODIs in recent years. He was a part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and he was also a part of the Indian team that reached the semi final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Kohli has also had a successful T20I career. He has scored over 3,000 runs in T20Is, at an average of over 50. He has also scored 30 half-centuries in T20Is. Kohli is the highest run-scorer in T20Is, and he is also the fastest player to reach 3,000 runs in T20Is.
Kohli has also led India to success in T20Is. He was the captain of the Indian team that won the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
Kohli has also had a successful Test career. He has scored over 8,000 runs in Tests, at an average of over 50. He has also scored 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries in Tests.
Kohli is the fastest player to reach 7,000 runs in Tests, and he is also the fastest player to reach 8,000 runs in Tests. Kohli is also the highest run-scorer for India in Tests.
Kohli has also led India to success in Tests. Under his captaincy, India became the number one ranked Test team in the world. Kohli also led India to its first ever Test series win in Australia.
Virat Kohli's cricketing journey has been studded with remarkable records and achievements. Some of his notable accomplishments include:
Virat Kohli has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, both for his individual performances and contributions to the Indian cricket team. Some of the notable awards include:
Virat Kohli has been a dynamic and inspirational captain for the Indian cricket team. He took over the captaincy of the Test team in 2014 and the limited-overs formats in 2013. Under his leadership, India achieved several historic victories, including series wins in Australia and South Africa. However, he stepped down as the T20I captain in September 2021 and as the ODI captain in August 2021, citing the need to manage his workload and focus on his batting.
While Virat Kohli is celebrated for his cricketing achievements, he has also faced controversies during his career:
In conclusion, Virat Kohli's journey in cricket has been nothing short of remarkable. From his early days as a talented teenager to becoming one of the world's greatest batsmen and captains, he has left an indelible mark on the game. His records, achievements, and controversies have all contributed to making him a cricketing icon and a source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide. Kohli's legacy in Indian and international cricket will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.