Virat Kohli

International Career

From the narrow lanes of Delhi to the expansive fields of international cricket, Virat Kohli's story is one of determination, resilience, and an undefeated mentality. Born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India, he is the most celebrated Indian cricketer of the modern era and former captain of the Indian national team. Kohli is widely regarded as the ‘best in the business’ in modern cricket, especially when the question comes to the white ball. Known for his aggressive batting style, consistency, and leadership, he has achieved numerous records in all formats of the game. His career includes unbelievable records in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is, making him one of the most successful players in cricket history. His contributions to Indian cricket have earned him global recognition and numerous awards.

Now, let’s explore some of the key international moments that have defined his illustrious career. From match-winning knocks to memorable milestones, these moments showcase his exceptional skills, leadership, and fairytale journey, making him one of the most influential figures in the world of cricket.

• August 18, 2008:In the India tour of Sri Lanka, Virat debuted in the ODI format at Dambulla. Coming as an opener, he failed to resist his nerves and was trapped by Lankan bowler Nuwan Kulasekara when he was batting at 12. Sri Lanka won the match, and young Kohli was starving to prove his potential at ‘Men in Blue.’
• December 24, 2009:He has smashed 50 hundred to date in the ODI format, which makes him the finest ODI batter of modern cricket. But in the 4th ODI of Sri Lanka's tour of India at Eden Gardens, he scored his maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka. He scored 107 runs in 114 balls, consisting of 11 fours and 1 six. Depending upon the great partnership between him and Gautam Gambhir, India won by 7 wickets.
• June 12, 2010:In the India tour of Zimbabwe, he debuted in the 1st T20I at Harare. While chasing the small target of 111, the Indian batting top order collapsed at first, but then he came out to bat and assured the victory with his unbeaten 26 runs knock, consisting of 3 fours and 1 six. Although it was a tiny knock, his undefeated mentality impressed the fans and the management.
• June 20 - 23, 2011:In the 1st test of India's tour of the West Indies at Kingston, Kohli debuted in the Indian test jersey. In his debut test, he failed to poetry his capabilities and fell short of expectations in both the innings. He managed to score only 4 and 15 respectively.

Indian Premier League

In the history of IPL, undoubtedly, Kohli has one of the most decorated careers. He has been a cornerstone for Royal Challengers Bangalore since his debut in 2008. Over the years, he has accumulated 8,004 runs in 252 IPL matches with a strike rate of 131.97, making him one of the highest run-scorers in the tournament's history. Known for his aggressive batting and consistency, he has played numerous match-winning innings, including a record-breaking 973 runs in the 2016 season, which remains the highest-ever run tally in a single IPL season. His leadership and exceptional batting skills have made him a central figure in the league. Let us go through his decade-long IPL career, from his debut to recent years.

Domestic Career

Kohli’s domestic career has been a roller-coaster ride with a lot of ups and downs, but he has always stood strong against all the odds. He made his List A debut on February 18, 2006, playing for Delhi against the Services team at Delhi in the Ranji Trophy. His debut match was not a mentionable one, but during the 2008 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Kohli smashed his best batting score of 172 runs against Jharkhand, and this caught the eyes of the national selectors at that time. He has played 331 matches, scoring a humongous total of 15,405 runs with a strike rate of 93.56 in his List A career.

In First-Class cricket, Kohli debuted at the age of 18 in a match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu from 23-26 November 2006, but he could score only 10 runs off 25 balls with a strike rate of 40.00 in the 1st innings of that match. A major highlight of his domestic career is when he played a match against Karnataka on the day after his father’s death and amassed 90 runs in that match, showcasing his mental strength and determination towards the sport. He has accumulated 11,485 runs, featuring in 156 matches with a strike rate of 55.95 in his First-Class cricket career.

Records and Achievements

Believed to be the greatest cricketer of all time in today's world, Virat Kohli has upscaled his worth with all the achievements and milestones that he has conquered, beating the bars set by some great legends. He has won numerous awards and has set new records with his phenomenal batting abilities. Let’s climb up his huge awards and records lists:-

Awards:

Kohli has won some of the most honourable national and International awards, which is not a cup of tea for everyone. Some of his awards and accolades are mentioned below:

• For his excellent performances, he was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2013.
• India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna Award, was presented to him in 2018.
• He received the Padma Shri Award in 2017.
• He was conferred the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy twice for being the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
• He was the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade from 2011-2020.
• He was named Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
• He was awarded the ICC Spirit of Cricket award in 2019.

Records:

When it comes to weaving enchantment with a bat in hand, people recall Virat Kohli, as he is one of the most calculatingly aggressive batsmen on the field, which is the reason for his never-ending record list that enthusiasts should go through.

• He has scored the most double-hundreds in Test matches by an Indian player (7).
• He holds the record with the most Centuries (80 centuries) among the active players.
• He is the only Indian cricketer who held the number-one rank in ICC batsmen rankings in all three formats.
• He is the first batsman to achieve 20,000 runs in a decade.
• He has smashed the most ODI centuries (50).
• He has scored the most fifties in T20Is (39).
• He scored the most runs in a series in ODI (765).

Personal Life

‘The GOAT,’ Virat Kohli, was born into a Punjabi family on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India, renowned for his lion-like attitude on the field and his unmatchable expertise in cricket, he is the finest batsman across the world as his achievements and milestones scream. He, in his early life, went to Vishal Bharti School till 8th standard and then transferred to Saviour Convent School in Paschim Vihar, Delhi, where he completed his schooling years. His father was his greatest admirer, and he managed to admit him to the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA) on 30 May 1998 under coach Rajkumar Sharma, who played an essential role in carving his early career.