Virat Kohli

 

Virat Kohli 

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988. He's a famous cricketer from India. He used to be the leader of the Indian national cricket team. Now, he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and for Delhi in Indian domestic cricket.

People all around the world think he's one of the best cricketers ever. They especially think he's one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. They call him "The King" because he's so good and lots of people like him. Kohli has set many records in his career in all types of cricket matches.

In 2020, the International Cricket Council said he was the best male cricketer of the decade. He also helped India win the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy when he was the captain of the team from 2014 to 2022.

Not many Indian cricketers have played more than 500 matches for India, but Kohli is one of them. 

Kohli was born and grew up in New Delhi. He learned to play cricket at the West Delhi Cricket Academy and started playing for the Delhi Under-15 team when he was young. He began playing for the Indian national team in 2008. He was really good in the One Day International (ODI) matches and later started playing Test matches in 2011.

In 2013, he became the best ODI batsman in the world, according to the rankings by the ICC. During the 2014 T20 World Cup, he scored the most runs ever in that tournament. In 2018, he became the best Test batsman in the world, making him the only Indian cricketer to be the best in all three types of crickets.

In 2019, he was the first player to score 20,000 international runs in just one decade. In 2021, he decided not to be the captain of the Indian team for T20 matches after the T20 World Cup. Then, in early 2022, he also stopped being the captain for Test matches.

He got lots of awards for how well he played cricket. In 2012, he was called the best one-day cricket player by the ICC. Then, in 2017 and 2018, he got the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, which is given to the best cricketer by the ICC. He did something really special in 2018 by winning both the best test and one-day player awards from the ICC. No one had done that before. From 2016 to 2018, he was named the best cricketer in the world by Wisden. In India, he got awards like the Arjuna Award in 2013, Padma Shri in 2017, and the Khel Ratna award in 2018.

People thought he was super famous in 2016 and one of the athletes who make the most money in 2018. Time magazine even said he was one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. In 2020, he was ranked 66th on Forbes' list of the richest athletes, making more than $26 million. In 2022, he made a lot of money, around ₹165 crore, making him one of the cricketers who earn the most. 

Early Life

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India. His family was Punjabi and followed the Hindu religion. His dad, Prem Kohli, was a lawyer who dealt with criminal cases, and his mom, Saroj Kohli, was a homemaker. Virat had an older brother named Vikas and an older sister named Bhawna. They lived in a place called Uttam Nagar, and he went to Vishal Bharti Public School for his early education.

When Virat was just three years old, he showed a strong interest in cricket. He would grab a cricket bat and ask his dad to bowl to him. In 1998, the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WCDA) was founded. Virat's father, seeing his passion for cricket, decided to help him. He introduced nine-year-old Virat to a coach named Rajkumar Sharma. At first, Coach Sharma thought Virat was just another enthusiastic kid, but within two weeks, he was impressed by Virat's accuracy and power in throwing the ball.

Some neighbors suggested that Virat's father should enroll him in a professional cricket academy because they believed he had the talent for it. Even though he was skilled, Virat couldn't get a spot on the under-14 Delhi cricket team. It wasn't because he wasn't good enough but because of other reasons. Offers came for Virat to join influential cricket clubs, which would have guaranteed his selection, but his father turned them down. He wanted Virat to earn his spot based on his own skills and not because of any unfair advantages.

Despite the setbacks, Virat didn't give up. He eventually made it to the under-15 Delhi cricket team. He received training at the academy while also playing matches at the Sumeet Dogra Academy in Vasundhara Enclave. Coach Sharma remembers Virat's early days at the academy, where he showed incredible talent and a strong determination to improve. Virat was always ready to bat and never wanted to leave practice.

To focus on his cricket career, Virat changed schools during the ninth grade and went to Saviour Convent School. He was so dedicated to cricket that he and his father would travel long distances to make sure he never missed a match. Over time, he worked hard to improve his skills and became a respected player among local bowlers.

On December 18, 2006, Virat's father passed away due to a cerebral attack. His father had played a big role in supporting his cricket training, and Virat missed him a lot. After his father's death, Virat became more mature and serious about cricket. He didn't want to be left out of any games and focused all his energy on playing cricket.

Virat's family lived in Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar, until 2015, when they moved to Gurgaon.

When Virat Kohli was a young cricketer in Delhi, he started playing in October 2002 at Luhnu cricket ground in a match against Himachal Pradesh. In his first game, he scored 15 runs. He made his first fifty in national cricket by scoring 70 runs against Harayana at Ferozeshah Kotla. By the end of that season, he had a total of 172 runs with an average of 34.40, making him the highest run-scorer for his team.

In the 2003-04 season, he became the captain of the under-15 team and scored 54 runs in his first match, helping Delhi win against Himachal Pradesh. In the next match against Jammu and Kashmir, he scored his first century with 119 runs. By the end of that season, he had 390 runs at an average of 78, with two centuries.

In 2004, he played in the Vijay Merchant Trophy for the Delhi under-17 team and scored 470 runs, with his highest score being 251. His coach, Ajit Chaudhary, praised his performance.

In the 2005-06 season, he scored 227 runs against Punjab and helped Delhi win against Uttar Pradesh. He scored 228 runs in the semi-finals against Baroda, leading Delhi to victory in the tournament.

On February 18, 2006, he made his List A cricket debut but didn't get a chance to bat. In 2006, he joined the state senior team and made his first-class debut on November 23, 2006, but only scored ten runs in his first innings. After a few matches without scoring fifty, he received counseling from his coaches.

In a match against Karnataka, he was unbeaten on 40 when he learned of his father's passing. Despite the tragedy, he returned to the match and scored 90 runs. His determination impressed his coach and teammates.

Kohli's T20 cricket journey began in April 2007, where he was the top run-scorer for his team in the Inter-State T20 Championship with 179 runs.

In September 2008, he played against SNGPL in the Nissar Trophy and scored 52 runs in the first innings and a massive 197 in the second innings.

In the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season, he returned to domestic cricket and scored 67 runs in a match against Maharastra, helping Delhi win.

His dedication and hard work in junior cricket didn't go unnoticed, and he continued to impress as he grew into a professional cricketer.

Ashish Nehra observed his growth over time and shared his thoughts:

"I did not see him waste his time. If not on the field, he would be busy in the gym. I saw him first as a chubby-cheeked bubbly young kid who grew into a perfect athlete. His junior cricket lessons have obviously helped him. I did not know him well, but had heard a lot about his exploits in junior cricket."

India Under-19

In July 2006, Virat Kohli was chosen to play for the India Under-19 cricket team in England. He did really well, scoring an average of 105 in one-day matches and 49 in test matches against England's under-19 team. His coach, Lalchand Rajput, praised his ability to handle fast and spin bowling. In September, the team toured Pakistan, and Kohli played brilliantly, scoring runs in both matches they won. In early 2007, he went to New Zealand with the team, scoring 113 in the first test match. Later, they played in Malaysia and against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh under-19 teams, where he didn't score big, but he did well in the Test series with scores of 144 and 94.

In February-March 2008, Kohli became the captain of the Indian under-19 team, and they won the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. He was one of the top scorers in the tournament, with 235 runs in 6 games. His century against the West Indies was considered the best innings of the tournament. He also played a crucial role in the semi-final, taking wickets and scoring runs. In the final, he didn't score much, but his contribution helped India win.

In June 2008, Kohli and two of his under-19 teammates got a scholarship to train in Australia. This scholarship aimed to improve their skills. Kohli also played for India Emerging Players in a tournament in 2008, where he scored 120 runs against New Zealand Emerging Players. His performances caught the attention of the national selectors, and he soon joined the senior Indian cricket team in Colombo after playing 28 under-19 ODIs and 12 under-19 Tests.

 

Virat Kohli's International Career Beginnings

In 2008, something big happened for Virat Kohli. He got a chance to play for the Indian cricket team. But at that time, he was not very experienced. He had only played eight List A matches before this.

Kohli's selection for the team was a surprise for many because he was not a well-known player then. During the tour of Sri Lanka, two of the main players, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, couldn't play due to injuries. So, Kohli had to step in and open the batting for the team.

His first international match was in August 2008 when he was just 19 years old. Unfortunately, he didn't do too well in that match and got out after scoring only 12 runs. But in the fourth match of the series, he scored 54 runs, which was his first fifty in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

Later, in September 2008, Kohli replaced an injured player in the India A squad and scored 49 runs in one of the matches against Australia A. In October 2008, he played a tour match against Australia and performed impressively, scoring 105 runs in the first innings.

In November 2008, he was part of the Indian team for a series against England, but he didn't get a chance to play. However, in December 2008, he was given a contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which meant he would get paid for playing for the national team.

Despite this contract, he was dropped from the team for the series against Sri Lanka in January. But things turned around in July–August 2009 when he played in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia. He was the top run-scorer in the tournament and played a fantastic innings of 104 runs in the final match, helping India win the title.

Kris Srikkanth, the head of the Indian national selection committee, praised Kohli's performance in this tournament, and Kohli himself considers it a turning point in his career.

In August 2009, Kohli returned to the national team for a series in Sri Lanka. He also played in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy. Later that year, he scored his first ODI century, making 107 runs in a match against Sri Lanka.

His performance helped India win the series 3–1. This was a significant moment in his early international career.

 

From 2010 to 2011: Climbing Up in Cricket

In January 2010, Kohli got a chance to play in a cricket tournament in Bangladesh because another famous player, Tendulkar, took a break from playing. During this tournament, Kohli did really well. He became the third Indian player to score two centuries in one-day international matches (ODIs) before he turned 22. People praised him for his performance, and he ended up scoring the most runs in the tournament, with 275 runs in five innings. That's an average of about 91 runs per inning!

People used to think Kohli was a bit arrogant, but his success on the field showed he was a humble and hardworking player. The captain of the Indian team, MS Dhoni, said Kohli had grown up a lot and was a humble guy.

In May and June 2010, Kohli got a chance to be the vice-captain of the Indian team for a series of matches against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. This was a big deal because many experienced players were not playing. In the first match, Kohli got out in a very rare and strange way, called a "diamond duck." But despite this, he became the fastest Indian player at the time to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket. He also made his debut in international T20 matches against Zimbabwe, where he scored 26 runs without getting out.

Later in the same month, during the 2010 Asia Cup, Kohli was in the Indian team and was made to bat in the number 3 position. Unfortunately, he didn't do very well and scored only 67 runs in total. His poor form continued in the series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Sri Lanka, where he averaged only 15 runs.

Even though he was not in great form, Kohli was still picked for a three-match series against Australia in October. In the only completed match of that series, he scored a century and was named the best player of the match. He openly admitted that he was under a lot of pressure to perform because of his previous bad performances. During the home ODI series against New Zealand, he scored another century in the first match, which was his fourth in ODIs and his second in a row. India won all five matches in that series, and Kohli's great performances helped him secure his spot in the ODI team and make him a strong candidate for the World Cup squad. In 2010, he was India's top run-scorer in ODIs, with 995 runs from 25 matches, averaging 47.38, and scoring three centuries and seven half-centuries.

In January 2011, during the South African tour, Kohli was again India's top run-scorer in a five-match ODI series, with 193 runs, including two fifties, although India lost the series. His performance moved him up to the second spot in the ICC Rankings for Men's ODI batters. He was also selected to be part of India's 15-man squad for the World Cup.

Kohli played in every match during India's successful World Cup campaign. He scored 100 not out in the first match against Bangladesh, becoming the first Indian to score a century in their first World Cup match. In the final against Sri Lanka in Mumbai, he scored 35 runs and had an 83-run partnership with Gambhir, helping India chase a target of 275 runs after losing both openers early in the innings.

 

Big News in Cricket

In 2011, something important happened in the world of Test cricket. India was playing against the West Indies. India chose a team with many new players. Some of the regular players like Tendulkar, Gambhir, and Sehwag were not playing due to injuries or rest. One of the new players was Kohli.

Kohli had never played Test cricket before. He made his Test debut in Kingston, Jamaica. He batted in the 5th position but didn't do very well. He only scored 4 and 15 runs in his two innings. He was dismissed (out) by the bowler Fidel Edwards in both innings. India managed to win the Test series 1-0, but Kohli didn't perform very well. He only scored 76 runs in five innings and had trouble facing short-pitched deliveries.

After his not-so-great debut, Kohli was dropped from the Test team for India's series in England. But he got a second chance when Yuvraj got injured. However, he didn't get to play in any matches during that series. In the One Day International (ODI) series that followed, he did okay, with an average score of 38.80. He scored 55 runs in the first ODI but didn't do so well in the next three matches. In the last game of the series, he scored his sixth ODI century, 107 runs off 93 balls. He partnered with Rahul Dravid to score 170 runs, and it was the only century in the series. People praised him for his hard work and maturity.

In October 2011, Kohli was the top run-scorer in a five-match ODI series against England. India won all five matches, and Kohli scored a total of 270 runs at an average of 90. He had a great partnership with Gambhir in one of the matches and scored 112 runs. He also scored 86 runs in another match. Because of his ODI success, Kohli was selected for the Test series against the West Indies in November. He played in the final match and scored fifty runs in both innings. India also won the ODI series against the West Indies 4-1, and Kohli scored 243 runs in it. He hit his eighth ODI century during this series. People started calling him an expert in chasing targets.

Kohli ended the year 2011 as the top run-scorer in ODIs with 1381 runs from 34 matches. He had four centuries and eight fifties.

In December 2011, during India's tour of Australia, Kohli didn't do well in the first two Tests because his defensive skills were not up to the mark. In one match, while fielding, he made a rude gesture to the crowd, and he was fined 50% of his match fee for that. However, he redeemed himself in the third Test by being the highest scorer for India in both innings. He scored 44 and 75 runs. In the fourth and final Test of the series, he scored his first Test century, 116 runs in the first innings. India lost the series 0-4, but Kohli was the standout performer for India in that tough series.

In 2012 and 2013, Virat Kohli did really well in one-day cricket (ODI) and became the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team.

In one tournament, called the Commonwealth Bank triangular series, where India played against Australia and Sri Lanka, Kohli played seven matches. He made two scores of fifty runs - 77 runs in one match and 66 runs in another, both against Sri Lanka. In one match, India had to chase a score of 321 runs, and when Kohli came to bat, the score was 86/2. But he played exceptionally well and scored 133 runs not out from 86 balls. This helped India win comfortably, and he was declared the Man of the Match for his brilliant performance. A former Australian cricketer and commentator, Dean Jones, said that Kohli's innings was one of the best in ODI history. Even though Kohli did great, India couldn't win the series because Sri Lanka beat Australia later. Kohli scored a total of 373 runs at an average of 53.28 in that series, making him India's top scorer and the only player to score a century.

After this, Kohli became the vice-captain for the 2012 Asia Cup in Bangladesh. He was in fantastic form during this tournament, scoring 357 runs, the most by any player. In one important match against Pakistan, he played his best innings ever, scoring 183 runs from 148 balls, helping India chase down a target of 330 runs. This was India's highest successful run chase in ODI at that time. His innings was also the highest individual score in Asia Cup history. Even though Kohli played really well in both matches that India won, India couldn't reach the final of the tournament.

In July and August of 2012, Kohli scored two centuries in a five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, helping India win the series 4-1. He also played a fantastic T20I match, scoring 68 runs in 48 balls, his first fifty in T20I, and was named the player of the series. During the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, Kohli was the highest run-scorer for India, hitting two fifties against Afghanistan and Pakistan. He was named in the ICC 'Team of the Tournament' for his performances.

However, in Test cricket, Kohli had a tough time during England's tour of India in late 2012 and early 2013, with his highest score being only 20 runs. England won the series. Against Pakistan, he struggled in both T20Is and ODIs. He had a quiet ODI series against England as well, except for one match where he scored an unbeaten 77 runs. But things changed when India played against Australia in a Test series in February 2013. Kohli scored his fourth Test century (107) in the first match, and India whitewashed Australia 4-0, which was a significant achievement. He averaged 56.80 in that series.

In June 2013, Kohli played in the ICC Champions Trophy in England, which India won. He scored 144 runs in a warm-up match against Sri Lanka. He did reasonably well in the group matches, and India reached the semi-finals without losing any matches. In the semi-final against Sri Lanka, he scored 58 not out, helping India win the match easily. India faced England in the final, which was a shortened match due to rain. Kohli was the top scorer for India with 43 runs from 34 balls, helping India reach a total of 129/7. India won the match by five runs, securing their second consecutive ICC ODI tournament victory. Kohli was also included in the 'Team of the Tournament' by the ICC.

Kohli did some amazing things in cricket and became a captain. He became the captain during a tournament in the West Indies because Dhoni got hurt. Kohli played really well and scored a century (100 runs) in one of the games. He became the captain for a whole series when India played against Zimbabwe. In the first game of that series, he scored 115 runs and helped India win. India won all the games in that series.

Then, there was a big series against Australia. Kohli played really well in that series too. He scored a century in just 52 balls, which was really fast. He also helped India win a game by scoring 115 runs. After this series, Kohli became the number one batsman in the world in one-day cricket.

Later, India played against the West Indies in a Test series. Kohli didn't do very well in the first game, but he did better in the second game, scoring 57 runs. This series was special because it was the last one for the great Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli was expected to take his place in the team.

After the Test series, there were some one-day games against the West Indies. Kohli played well in those games and even won the Man of the Match award in one of them. He almost scored his third century in another game but got out when he had 99 runs. India won the one-day series.

Then, India went to South Africa to play some matches. Kohli didn't do very well in the one-day games there. But in the first Test match, he scored a century, becoming the first subcontinent batsman to do so at that ground since a long time. The match ended in a draw, and Kohli was the best player in that game. Unfortunately, India didn't win any matches on that tour. They lost the second Test, but Kohli played decently, making 46 and 11 runs in that game.

 

In 2014, Virat Kohli had a mixed year in cricket.

New Zealand Tour:

During the tour of New Zealand, he played in both One Day International (ODI) and Test matches. In the five-match ODI series, he batted really well, with an average of 58.21, but unfortunately, India lost all four matches out of five. In the two-match Test series that followed, he scored 214 runs, including a fantastic unbeaten 105 in the second Test, which helped India avoid a defeat.

Asia Cup and World Twenty20:

India then went to Bangladesh to play in the Asia Cup and World Twenty20. Kohli couldn't participate in the Asia Cup due to an injury, and Virat Kohli was named the captain for that tournament. Kohli played brilliantly in the opening match, scoring 136 runs against Bangladesh. However, India couldn't make it to the final due to close losses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Kohli later returned from injury and led the team in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. He played well throughout the tournament, with notable innings against West Indies and Bangladesh. He was named the Man of the Tournament for his outstanding performance.

England Tour:

The tour of England, on the other hand, was a tough one for Kohli. He struggled to score runs, managing only 134 runs in ten innings, with his highest score being just 39. He faced difficulties against the swinging deliveries, and James Anderson, a bowler from England, dismissed him four times. This poor performance led to a lot of discussions and analysis about his batting technique.

Home Series against West Indies:

Kohli regained his form during the home ODI series against the West Indies in October 2014. His innings of 62 in the second ODI boosted his confidence, and he played a crucial role in India's series win.

Sri Lanka ODI Series:

In November, Kohli had the chance to captain India again in a series against Sri Lanka, as MS Dhoni was rested. He didn't have a great start in the first four ODIs, but in the fifth ODI, he scored an unbeaten 139 runs to secure a whitewash series win for India. During this series, he became the fastest player in the world to reach 6000 runs in ODIs.

 

Test Series against Australia:

In December, during the Test series against Australia, Dhoni was not available due to injury, and Kohli took over as the Test captain for the first time. He performed exceptionally well, scoring a century (115 runs) in the first innings of the first Test. In the second innings, he scored 141 runs, but India couldn't win the match. Later in the series, he was appointed as the full-time Test captain. In the fourth Test, he became the first player in Test cricket history to score three centuries in his first three innings as Test captain.

In that series, he scored a total of 692 runs in four Tests, setting a record for the most runs by an Indian batsman in a Test series in Australia.

In 2015 and 2016, Virat Kohli played in World Cups and other limited-over matches. Before the World Cup, he didn't perform very well in practice games, but in the first World Cup match against Pakistan, he did exceptionally well by scoring 107 runs. He got an award for being the best player in that match and became the first Indian to score a century against Pakistan in a World Cup match.

In the next match against South Africa, Kohli scored 46 runs, but India still won. In the following four matches, he continued to play well, scoring 33*, 33, 44*, and 38 runs. India won all these matches and finished on top in their group.

However, India was eliminated in the semi-finals by Australia. Kohli scored only 1 run in that game. Then, in June 2015, when India toured Bangladesh, Kohli didn't perform well. He scored only 14 in a Test match and had an average of 16.33 in the ODI series, which India lost.

But he bounced back in the Test series against Sri Lanka, scoring his 11th Test century. India won the series 2-1. During South Africa's tour of India, Kohli became the fastest player to reach 1,000 runs in T20I cricket.

In 2016, Kohli had a good start, scoring 91 and 59 in the first two ODIs against Australia. He followed that with two centuries in the same series, becoming the fastest player to reach 7,000 runs in ODIs and scoring his 25th century. India didn't do well in the ODI series, but they won the T20I series against Australia, with Kohli playing crucial innings in all three matches.

Kohli also helped India win the Asia Cup, scoring important runs in several matches. He continued his good form in the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, earning awards and recognition for his performances. In a Test match against the West Indies, he scored 200 runs, securing a big win for India. India went on to win the Test series against New Zealand as well.

Overall, Kohli had his ups and downs in these years but showed his class with some outstanding performances.

In 2017 and 2018, Virat Kohli was really good at batting and leading his team.

First, he scored double centuries (which means he got 200 runs in one game) in two Test series against England and Bangladesh. This was a big deal because no one had ever done it four times in a row before. He even broke the record of two great players, Donald Bradman and Rahul Dravid, who had done it three times. Against England, he scored his highest Test score of 235 runs.

Kohli got to be the captain of his team in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. In one game against Bangladesh, he scored 96 not out, and he became the quickest player to get 8,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket. India got to the final, but they lost to Pakistan by 180 runs. In one of the early overs of the game, Kohli was dropped (which means the other team missed a chance to get him out) when he had only scored five runs, but he got out on the next ball he faced. He was also picked for the 'Team of the Tournament' at the 2017 Champions Trophy by the ICC.

Kohli kept playing really well in ODI matches against the West Indies and Sri Lanka. He got 30 ODI centuries, the same as Ricky Ponting. In October 2017, he was named the best player of the series in ODI matches against New Zealand because he made lots of runs and set new records.

In Test matches against Sri Lanka in November, he made even more records. He got centuries and double centuries in the first two Tests and then got another double century in the third Test. He became the first player to get six double centuries as a captain. He also got the most runs in a three-match Test series by an Indian. India won the series, and Kohli was named the best player in two of the Test matches and the best player in the series.

In 2017, Kohli did so well that the ICC chose him as the captain of their World Test XI and ODI XI teams.

In 2018, Kohli didn't do as well in Test matches when India played against South Africa, and they lost 1-2. But he made a record for scoring the most runs in a bilateral ODI series, with 558 runs in 6 matches. India won the ODI series 5-1, and Kohli was the first Indian captain to win an ODI series in South Africa.

In March 2018, Kohli wanted to play county cricket in England to get better before India's tour of England in June. He signed to play for Surrey, but he got a neck injury and couldn't play.

In August 2018, during the Test series against England, Kohli scored his first Test century in England. He also became the number one ranked Test batsman in the world, and the seventh Indian to do this. He helped India win one of the Test matches. Even though India lost the Test series, Kohli was praised for his batting against the challenging English bowlers.

In ODI matches against the West Indies in 2018, Kohli reached 10,000 runs faster than anyone else, except for Sachin Tendulkar. He scored his 37th ODI century and became the first player for India, and the tenth overall, to score three centuries in a row in ODIs.

In December 2018, during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli scored his 25th Test century in Perth. He became the fastest Indian to reach 25 Test centuries, except for Don Bradman. Despite his great innings, India lost the match. But by winning the Test series in Australia, he became the first Indian and the first Asian captain to do so. He was named the captain of the World Test XI and ODI XI by the ICC for 2018.

From 2019 to 2020, Virat Kohli had some great moments as a cricket captain but also faced some tough times with his batting.

In April 2019, he became the captain of India's cricket team for the 2019 Cricket World Cup. In June 2019, during a match against Pakistan, he became the fastest player to score 11,000 runs in One Day International (ODI) cricket. He did this in his 222nd game. Just eleven days later, in a match against the West Indies, he became the fastest cricketer to score 20,000 runs in all international cricket. He reached this milestone in his 417th game. Kohli also scored five consecutive fifty-plus scores in the World Cup, but unfortunately, India lost in the semi-final.

After the World Cup, India played matches in the West Indies, and Kohli played a crucial role in their ODI series win by scoring two back-to-back hundreds. He was named the player of the series for his excellent performances. In the test series that followed, which India won 2-0, Kohli became the most successful test captain for India, surpassing MS Dhoni's record of 27 wins.

In October 2019, Kohli captained India for the 50th time in Test cricket against South Africa. In the first innings of that match, he scored an unbeaten 254 runs, which was his personal best. He also became the first Indian batsman to score seven double centuries in Test cricket. In November 2019, during a day/night Test match against Bangladesh, Kohli became the fastest captain to score 5,000 runs in Test cricket and also scored his 70th international century in the same match.

However, Kohli's form took a hit in early 2020 when India toured New Zealand. He only managed to score 218 runs across all formats during the tour, with just one fifty-plus score in the first ODI. This was his lowest run total in a tour where he played all formats. India won the T20I series 5-0 but lost the ODI and Test series 3-0 and 2-0, respectively.

Later in November 2020, when India toured Australia, Kohli scored two half-centuries in the ODI series and played his 250th ODI match. In the first test, he scored 74 runs before getting run out, and India faced a heavy defeat by being dismissed for just 36 runs. After this, Kohli left the tour because he was expecting the birth of his first child.

In November 2020, Kohli was nominated for several awards, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade. He ended up winning the awards for Male Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade.

From 2021 to 2022, there were some big changes in Virat Kohli's cricket career. In 2020 and 2021, he played in various formats of cricket. In Test matches, he did okay, scoring 172 runs in 4 matches, with 2 good scores and 2 times getting out without scoring. In 2020, he played 24 matches and scored a total of 842 runs.

In T20 matches, he started badly but then did really well, becoming the highest run-scorer in a series and even reaching 3,000 runs in T20 cricket. In ODI matches, he also did well, scoring 129 runs and becoming the second batsman to reach 10,000 runs at number 3.

In 2021, India played in the ICC World Test Championship Final but lost to New Zealand, and Kohli didn't perform well in that match. After that, he decided to step down as captain of the T20I team. Unfortunately, India didn't do well in the T20 World Cup, and Kohli's captaincy ended on a low note.

Later in 2021 and early 2022, India played against South Africa and Kohli did okay in Test matches but not so well in ODIs. India lost all the ODI matches against South Africa.

In 2022, India played against the West Indies and Sri Lanka, and Kohli had mixed performances. He scored his 5,000th run in India in ODIs but didn't do so well in some matches.

In England, India won the T20I series, but Kohli didn't perform well. He got injured in the first ODI and didn't do well in the second. However, India still won the ODI series.

Then, in the Asia Cup in 2022, Kohli made a comeback with some outstanding performances, including his first T20I century in a long time. He talked about how he had learned a lot in the past few years and how he had worked on improving his game.

He continued his good form in the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He played a great innings against Pakistan and was the top run-scorer in the tournament, earning a place in the Team of the Tournament.

Kohli was then selected to play for India against Bangladesh in 2022–23, and he scored his 44th ODI century, surpassing Ricky Ponting's record for the second-most centuries in international cricket.

In 2023, Virat Kohli had a great start to the year. He scored a century in a cricket match against Sri Lanka. In the third game of the series, he played exceptionally well and made 166 runs without getting out. This was his 21st century in India, which was a record. He also became the fifth-highest run-scorer in one-day international cricket, surpassing Mahela Jayawardene. Thanks to Kohli's performance, India won the third match by a huge margin of 317 runs.

In February and March 2023, Kohli played in the Border-Gavaskar series. He didn't score many runs in the first three tests, but in the final test in Ahmedabad, he played very well. He scored a total of 186 runs in that match, and it was his first century in that format in three years.

Before his 500th international game, Rahul Dravid praised Virat Kohli, saying that his long career is the result of hard work, discipline, and adaptability.

In 2007, a cricket league called the Indian Premier League (IPL) started. One of the teams in this league was Royal Challengers Bangalore, and they picked Virat Kohli to play for them. They paid him $30,000. They chose him because he did well in a tournament called the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.

In the first IPL match, Kohli didn't do well and only scored one run. As the tournament went on, he played in the middle of the batting order but didn't make a big impact. Later, he was moved to the top order, and he started playing better. But in the last two games of the tournament, he had to go back to the middle order to make room for another player. By the end of the season, he had scored 165 runs, and Bangalore finished seventh.

In the next season, Kohli didn't start well in the first two matches, but then he scored 50 runs in the third match. He didn't get many chances to bat after that because other players were doing well. Bangalore made it to the playoffs and even reached the final but lost.

From 2010 to 2012, Kohli played well for Bangalore. He was the vice-captain, which means he was an important player on the team. He helped the team win matches by scoring runs. In 2011, he became the captain for a match when the regular captain got injured. The team did well and finished on top of the points table. They reached the IPL final but lost again.

Kohli was retained by Bangalore in 2011 for a lot of money, $1.8 million. He had some good matches that season and became the leading run-scorer. He even captained the team for a few matches and did well. Bangalore reached the IPL final again but couldn't win.

In 2012, Kohli had some good matches but also some bad ones. He became the captain of the team in the middle of the season. He had a fantastic partnership with Chris Gayle in one match. But in the end, Bangalore didn't make it to the playoffs.

Kohli realized he needed to improve his game to keep up with the changing cricket dynamics.

In 2013 and 2014, Virat Kohli had an important role as the captain of the Bangalore cricket team. He took over after Daniel Vettori retired. Before that season, he was the team's highest run-scorer with 1,639 runs.

Kohli started the season well but had a loss against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. In a home match against Hyderabad, he scored an unbeaten 93 runs, which was his highest score in Twenty20 cricket at that time. He also scored fifties in matches against the Chennai Super Kings and the Delhi Daredevils. One of those matches needed a super over to decide the winner.

But there were some tough times too. After losing to the Mumbai Indians, Kohli had a disagreement with the crowd because they were being very aggressive towards the visiting team. His performance dipped for a while, but he bounced back with a great innings against Delhi, where he scored 99 runs.

Bangalore started the season well but struggled later on. Kohli admitted that the team's bowling unit wasn't performing well, which led to their decline. In their last match against Chennai, Kohli scored an unbeaten 56 and led his team to victory, but it wasn't enough to make it to the playoffs. Bangalore's season ended in the group stage.

Before the seventh season of the IPL, Kohli was retained by Bangalore for ₹12.5 crore (US$1.6 million). He started the season with a good score of 49 runs in a win against the Delhi Daredevils. However, his form dropped, and he got out without scoring in the second match. In a match against the Rajasthan Royals, Bangalore's batting wasn't good, and they only scored 70 runs, one of their lowest totals in IPL history. Kohli contributed 21 runs in that match.

Bangalore relied on the performances of Chris Gayle and Kohli, but both struggled to score big in the season. Kohli even tried changing his batting position, but it didn't help much. Bangalore lost six out of nine games, and Kohli hadn't scored a fifty yet.

In the twelfth game of the season against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kohli finally scored a fifty. But despite his efforts, Bangalore couldn't make it to the playoffs for the third time in a row. In the last match of the season against the Chennai Super Kings, Kohli scored 73 runs, but Bangalore still lost.

Despite the team's challenges, Kohli remained very popular and was the most-searched player on the internet during the tournament.

In 2015 and 2016, Virat Kohli had a mix of good and not-so-good moments as captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In 2015, he started the season feeling positive because of his team's improved middle order. He even decided to open the batting with Chris Gayle. In the second game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he scored 41 runs. In the next game, he got his first half-century, although they lost. He got another fifty in the next match and also showed his strategic skills by promoting AB de Villiers in the batting order. They won against the Delhi Daredevils, but in a game against Chennai, he fell short of a half-century, scoring 48 runs. Their winning streak ended. His best performance came against the Mumbai Indians when he scored 82 runs. In a rain-affected match against Hyderabad, he made 44 runs in just 19 balls and won the Player of the Match award. However, he was involved in an anti-corruption code breach incident. Despite some ups and downs, RCB made it to the playoffs but couldn't win the championship. Kohli scored a total of 505 runs in 16 matches that season.

In 2016, Kohli started well, scoring 75 runs in the first match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He continued to perform excellently in the early matches, even scoring his first century in Twenty20 cricket, although RCB didn't win that game. They struggled in the league stage but needed to win six out of seven matches to qualify for the playoffs. Kohli scored another century in a successful chase against Rising Pune Supergiant and continued with match-winning performances. He scored four consecutive fifty-plus scores in must-win matches and finished the league stage with 919 runs. RCB made it to the playoffs and faced Gujarat in the first qualifier. Kohli was dismissed for a duck, but his team won and reached the final, where they narrowly lost to Hyderabad. Kohli ended the season as the highest run-scorer with 973 runs in 16 matches.

In 2017, Kohli couldn't play initially due to a shoulder injury. RCB had a tough season and finished at the bottom of the standings. However, Kohli was the leading run-scorer for the team, accumulating 308 runs in 10 matches.

In 2018, Kohli was retained by RCB for a high price, but despite his good performance with 530 runs, the team didn't qualify for the playoffs.

In 2019, Kohli reached the milestone of 5000 IPL runs and became the leading run-scorer in IPL history. He also scored his fifth IPL century but couldn't prevent RCB from finishing at the bottom of the standings.

In 2020, Kohli scored 466 runs but couldn't take RCB to the finals.

In 2021, he became the first player to score over 6000 runs in the IPL. Kohli also announced that he would step down as RCB's captain after the season. He scored 405 runs in 15 games that season.

Overall, Kohli had some outstanding individual performances, but RCB faced challenges in winning the IPL championship during these years.

From 2022 until now, Virat Kohli has been the captain of his team.

In 2022, Kohli continued to play for RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and they paid him ₹150 million, which is like ₹160 million or US$2.0 million in 2023. But, Kohli didn't perform as well as usual. He scored 341 runs in 16 matches with an average of 21.31 and a strike rate of 115.

In one game against the Punjab Kings, he reached 6500 runs in the IPL. And in the last game of the tournament against the Gujarat Titans, he made it to 7000 runs for RCB. However, even with these records, the 2022 season was disappointing for Kohli. He had three innings where he didn't score any runs, including two times in a row.

In the first game of the 2023 season, Kohli scored 82 runs for Bangalore against the Mumbai Indians. Because their regular captain Faf Du Plessis was not available, Kohli became the captain for a little while.

As the season went on, in the tenth match against the Delhi Capitals, Kohli became the first player to reach 7000 runs in the IPL. During this season, he changed his strategy a bit. He started aggressively in the powerplay and then built a big score. After a short period of not doing so well, he scored a century against the Sunrises Hyderabad, which was important because Bangalore needed to win three games in a row to make it to the playoffs.

In the next match against the Gujarat Titans, Kohli scored another century, even though the team lost. Bangalore finished the season in sixth place, and Kohli scored a total of 639 runs in the season, with eight scores of fifty or more.

 

Profile

 

Playing Style:

Kohli is known for his unique way of playing cricket. He's a skilled batsman who is good at technical stuff and is very energetic when he plays. He usually bats in the third position in one-day cricket, stands with his chest slightly open, and holds the bat firmly at the bottom. People notice his quick footwork, wide range of shots, and how he manages to score well under a lot of pressure.

He prefers hitting grounded shots instead of big ones. He's great at wrist shots and scoring points in certain areas of the field. Kohli really likes the cover drive, which is a type of shot he's known for. He's also good at the flick shot, especially when the ball is thrown towards his leg side. He doesn't use the sweep shot very often and focuses on scoring points in the areas between deep square leg and mid-on. He's good at playing patiently but can also become aggressive when needed. His quick bat speed and flexible wrist movements allow him to create unique angles on the field.

Kohli is also a great fielder, known for his quick reflexes and safe catching. However, he has a weakness for deliveries that are wide of the off-stump, and bowlers often use this to their advantage.

Kohli is famous for his performance in one-day matches, with a high average when batting second. He's scored many centuries while chasing targets. He's known for his confidence, dedication, and hard work, which help him succeed in cricket.

 

Aggressiveness:

Kohli plays cricket with a lot of aggression. He's known for his passion and strong reactions during games. He's a competitive captain who makes bold decisions and sets an example for his team. In the past, some people saw him as too brash and overconfident. Some praised his assertiveness, while others criticized him for going too far and losing his temper.

Kohli has tried to control his aggressive behavior, but he says it sometimes helps him stay focused and motivated. He's not the type to be overly polite, and his confident attitude shows both on and off the field.

 

Comparison to Sachin Tendulkar:

Kohli's style of playing cricket often reminds people of Sachin Tendulkar, a cricket legend. Kohli looks up to Tendulkar and considers him a role model. He even tried to copy Tendulkar's batting style and shots.

Some cricket greats, like Vivian Richards, have praised Kohli for playing similarly to Tendulkar. Some people even call Kohli the "new king of world cricket." However, others, like Aakash Chopra, believe Tendulkar had more types of shots in his repertoire.

Tendulkar himself has said that Kohli has the potential to break his record of 100 international centuries, which is a big deal in cricket. They have a lot of respect for each other. In 2013, when Tendulkar retired from international cricket, Kohli gave him a special thread, and Tendulkar later returned it as a sign of their bond.

 

In Popular Culture

In 2008, a sports agent named Bunty Sajdeh from Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment noticed Virat Kohli's talent when he played well in the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Sajdeh was impressed by Kohli's leadership skills and attitude. He thought Kohli had great potential. Yuvraj Singh recommended Kohli, and he signed with Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment. Over the years, Kohli has become very popular. In 2013, his endorsements were worth more than ₹1 billion (US$13 million). Now, in 2023, his brand value is ₹1,000 crore (US$130 million). His bat deal with MRF is one of the best cricket deals in history. In 2017, Kohli signed a big contract with Puma worth ₹1.1 billion (US$14 million) over eight years. This made him the first Indian athlete to get a ₹100 crore deal with a brand. As of January 2023, Kohli is the most marketable cricketer, making ₹165 crore (US$22 million) each year. He has over 237 million followers on Instagram and gets paid ₹8.9 crore (US$1.2 million) for each sponsored post.

Kohli is famous worldwide for his sports achievements and popularity. ESPN ranks him among the top athletes. In 2014, a company called American Appraisal said his brand value was $56.4 million, making him the fourth most valuable celebrity brand in India. In 2016, his brand value went up to $92 million, second only to Shah Rukh Khan. Forbes named him the seventh "Most Valuable Brand among Athletes" in 2017, ahead of famous athletes like Messi and Curry. By September that year, he had deals with 17 brands and only endorsed products he used and believed in. In 2018, Time magazine put him on its list of the 100 most influential people. In 2019, he was the only cricketer on Forbes' list of "World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes," earning $25 million, mostly from endorsements. In March 2019, he became the brand ambassador of the Mobile Premier League. In 2020, he was 66th on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes, earning over $26 million. In April 2021, he became the brand ambassador for Vivo during the Indian Premier League.

In 2012, GQ magazine named Kohli one of the best-dressed men, alongside Barack Obama. In 2018, a documentary about his cricket career aired on the National Geographic channel. In 2019, Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax figure of Kohli in London. In the same year, the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi named a stand after him, making him the youngest cricketer to receive such an honor. In November of that year, an Indian animated superhero TV show called Super V premiered, featuring a fictionalized version of Kohli's teenage years and his discovery of superpowers. 

Personal Life

Virat Kohli, the famous cricketer, has a romantic relationship with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. They started dating in 2013, and people call them "Virushka." They first met during a shampoo advertisement shoot. Many people in the media talk about their relationship, but both Virat and Anushka usually keep it private. They got married on December 11, 2017, in a small ceremony in Italy, which made them one of India's most famous celebrity couples. On January 11, 2021, they had a daughter named Vamika, which means "little goddess" in Sanskrit.

In 2018, Virat Kohli decided to become a vegetarian to help with a neck problem caused by high uric acid levels. This problem affected his finger movements and his cricket performance. He stopped eating meat to stay healthy but still eats dairy products. Virat is known for being very fit and works hard to stay that way. He believes in a healthy lifestyle, which means regular exercise and a good diet. Because of his dedication, many people think he's one of the fittest cricketers globally.

Virat Kohli also believes in superstitions. He relies on lucky charms and rituals to bring him good luck in cricket. For example, he wears black wristbands and has a favorite pair of gloves that he thinks help him succeed. He's been wearing a kara, a traditional bangle, since 2012 for religious reasons. He also always wears white shoes when he plays cricket.

Virat has tattoos on his body that show his devotion to his family, spirituality, and love for sports. He has a tattoo of Lord Shiva in a meditation pose on the holy mountain of Kailash. He also has tattoos of the sacred symbol "Om" and his parents' names, Prem and Saroj. Additionally, there are tattoos of a tribal emblem, a serene monastery, a samurai warrior, the scorpion symbol, and his cap numbers for ODIs and Test matches.

 

Commercial Investments Simplified

Virat Kohli is a famous Indian cricketer, but he's also a smart businessman. In 2014, he invested in a football club called FC Goa because he wanted to help Indian football grow. He co-owned this club. After cricket, he wanted to do more businesses.

In the same year, he started a fashion brand called WROGN with his friend Anjana Reddy. They made cool clothes for men and sold them in popular shops like Myntra and Shopper's Stop. Kohli also became part of a social network called "Sport Convo" to help sports fans connect.

In 2015, Kohli put a lot of money, about ₹900 million, into gyms called "Chisel" all over India. He did this with a company called Chisel India. He also became a co-owner of a tennis team in the International Premier Tennis League, the UAE Royals. At the same time, he co-owned a wrestling team called Bengaluru Yodhas in the Pro Wrestling League. Kohli wanted to support different sports in India and around the world.

In 2016, Kohli started Stepathlon Kids with Stepathlon Lifestyle. It was a program to make kids more active and healthier.

In 2017, Kohli worked with Puma to create his sports brand called One8. They made sports clothes, shoes, and accessories. He also opened a fancy restaurant called Nueva in New Delhi and a chain of restaurant-bars called One8 Commune. These were his first steps into the food and drink industry.

In 2022, Kohli and his wife invested ₹2.5 crore in an insurance startup called Digit. They also supported a startup called Blue Tribe, which makes plant-based meat products. Kohli likes plant-based food and wants to help people make more eco-friendly choices.

 

Philanthropy

Philanthropy is when people help others by giving money or doing good things. In 2013, Virat Kohli started the "Virat Kohli Foundation" to help kids who don't have much. His foundation works with some special groups to talk about important problems and get help for these kids. They do things like auctions and events to get money for kids' education and health.

Virat Kohli cares about making kids' lives better by using sports and giving them what they need. He also works with other people and groups to help poor parts of our society.

Virat's foundation has events to get money for their causes. They even organize football matches with famous Indian cricket players and Bollywood actors. The first match was with Abhishek Bachchan's group, and it got a lot of attention and raised money. Virat was the captain of his team called "All Hearts FC," and they played against "All Stars FC" led by Abhishek Bachchan. Another football match happened in 2016, called the "Celebrity Clasico," where Virat's team played against Ranbir Kapoor's team. It was also a big success in raising money for good causes.

In 2016, Virat Kohli's foundation joined hands with Smile Foundation to help poor kids and young people. To start this, Virat arranged a special dinner in Mumbai where famous cricketers like MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and KL Rahul came to support children and young people.

Virat and the Indian cricket team also did a cleaning project at the Eden Gardens to support the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2016. This mission is about making India cleaner.

Before a match against Sri Lanka in 2017, Virat organized a special event in London to help the Justice and Care organization. This group works against problems like human trafficking and slavery. The event was meant to get more money and tell more people about these important issues.

In 2017, Virat started the Athlete Development Programme (ADP) to help young athletes. This program gives them guidance in things like coaching, training, fitness, and more, so they can become better at sports. It has helped young athletes like Swastika Ghosh and Aadil Bedi.

When the COVID-19 pandemic happened in 2020, Virat and his wife Anushka Sharma gave money to help the PM Relief Fund and the Maharashtra CM Relief Fund. They also care about animals and have given money to help them through a group called Awaaz. This group provides medical help, shelter, and food to stray animals.

 

Summary of Kohli's Cricket Achievements

As of July 2023, Kohli has achieved remarkable success in international cricket. He has scored 77 centuries and 7 double centuries in total:

 

Test Cricket: He has made 29 centuries and 7 double centuries.

 

One Day Internationals (ODIs): He has scored 47 centuries.

 

T20 Internationals (T20I): He has one century.

 

Kohli is a prominent figure in Indian cricket history. He was named the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup in 2014 and 2016, making him the only cricketer to achieve this twice.

In terms of ODI centuries, Kohli ranks second with 46 centuries, just behind Sachin Tendulkar who holds the record with 49. In international cricket overall, Kohli has amassed 75 centuries, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 100 centuries.

In 2018, Kohli set a record by becoming the first player to score 1,000 ODI runs in 11 innings in a single calendar year. In 2022, he also became the second player to score 1,000 runs in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and set a record for the highest number of runs scored in the tournament during a match against Bangladesh.

 

Kohli's Test cricket achievements include:

Most Wins as captain of India, with 40 wins out of 68 matches.

Four Test double-hundreds in four consecutive series.

 

In ODIs, he holds records for:

Most ODI centuries while chasing (26).

Most ODI centuries in India (21).

Fastest to milestones like 8,000 runs (175 innings), 9,000 runs (194 innings), 10,000 runs (205 innings), 11,000 runs (222 innings), and 12,000 runs (242 innings).

 

In T20 Internationals, he holds records for:

Most runs in T20 internationals - 4,008 runs.

Most Fifty plus scores in his career (38).

Highest career batting average in T20I - 52.73.

Fastest to milestones like 3,000 runs (81 innings) and 3,500 runs (96 innings).

Most player of the match awards (15 times) and player of the series awards (7 times).

 

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Kohli's records include:

Most runs in the Indian Premier League - 7,263 runs.

Most runs in a single edition of IPL - 973 runs (2016).

Being the only player to be involved in three double-century plus partnerships, twice with AB de Villiers and once with Chris Gayle.

Most runs against Delhi Capitals (1030).

Most centuries in a season (4) and in the league overall (7).

 

Awards and Honors

 

National Awards

In 2013, he received the Arjuna Award, which is the second-highest sporting honor in India.

In 2017, he was honored with the Padma Shri, which is India's fourth-highest civilian award.

In 2018, he received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, India's highest sporting honor.

 

Sporting Achievements

He won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade) from 2011 to 2020.

He was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

He was recognized as ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.

He received the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2012, 2017, and 2018.

He was named ICC Test Player of the Year in 2018.

He was part of the ICC ODI Team of the Year in 2012, 2014, 2016 (as captain), 2017 (as captain), 2018 (as captain), and 2019 (as captain).

He was included in the ICC Test Team of the Year in 2017 (as captain), 2018 (as captain), and 2019 (as captain).

In 2022, he was named in the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year.

He received the ICC Spirit of Cricket award in 2019.

He led the ICC Men's Test Team of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.

He was part of the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.

He was also included in the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade from 2011 to 2020.

He received the Polly Umrigar Award for International Cricketer of the Year multiple times.

He was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

He was honored as the ICC Men's Player of the Month in October 2022.

He received the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year award multiple times.

In 2016, he won the Indian Premier League Orange Cap for scoring the most runs.

He was recognized as the Barmy Army International Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

In 2012, he received the ESPNcricinfo ODI Batting Performance of the Year award.

 

Other Recognitions

In 2012, he won the People's Choice Awards India for Favorite Sportsperson.

He was named GQ Sportsman of the Year in 2013.

In 2017, he was honored as the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year.

He received the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Person of the Year award in 2019.

The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) renamed a stand after Kohli at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.