Virat Kohli – Biography
Full Name: Virat Kohli
Born: November 5, 1988
Birthplace: Delhi, India
Nationality: Indian
Profession: Cricketer (Batsman)
Role: Right-handed batsman
Teams: India National Team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL), Delhi (Domestic)
Early Life and Background
Virat Kohli was born in Delhi into a Punjabi family. He showed great interest in cricket from a young age. He joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at the age of 9, where he trained under coach Rajkumar Sharma. Kohli rose through the ranks in Delhi’s domestic cricket and quickly became one of the most promising young talents in India.
Career Highlights
U-19 World Cup
- Kohli first gained attention when he led India to victory in the 2008 ICC U-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
International Debut
- ODI Debut: August 18, 2008, vs Sri Lanka
- Test Debut: June 20, 2011, vs West Indies
- T20I Debut: June 12, 2010, vs Zimbabwe
Batting Achievements
- Kohli is considered one of the greatest batsmen of his generation.
- Known for his consistency across all formats—Tests, ODIs, and T20s.
- He was the fastest player to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 runs in ODIs.
- As of 2024, he has 75+ international centuries, second only to Sachin Tendulkar.
Captaincy
- Kohli became the captain of the Indian Test team in 2014 and later led the ODI and T20I teams.
- Under his leadership, India reached the top of the Test rankings and made it to several ICC tournament knockouts.
- He stepped down from captaincy roles between 2021-2022.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
- Plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) since the inaugural IPL in 2008.
- Holds the record for most runs in IPL history.
- Scored a record 973 runs in IPL 2016, the highest in a single season.
Personal Life
- Married Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in December 2017.
- The couple has a daughter, Vamika, and a son born in 2024.
Awards and Honors
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna)
- Padma Shri (2017)
- Arjuna Award (2013)
- Multiple ICC Cricketer of the Year awards
Legacy
Virat Kohli is not only admired for his aggressive batting and leadership but also for his fitness, discipline, and passion for the game. He has inspired a generation of cricketers with his dedication and mental toughness.
