Name:

Kohli, Virat

Nickname:

Chiku

Date of Birth:

05 Nov 1988

Gender:

Men

Place of Birth:

New Delhi

Career:

T20: 2010 - current
ODI: 2008 - current
Test: 2011 - current

Teams:

India (Country)
Delhi Daredevils (IPL)
Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL)

Cricket Superstar Profile: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli: Aggressive, attacking batsman has India on front-foot

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988. He is an attacking right-handed batsman who first played for India in the 2008 Under 19 World Cup where he skippered the team to victory. He made his first class debut for Delhi in 2006. He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2008 and his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011.

He succeeded M S Dhoni as the captain of the Indian team in all formats. He captains the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.

Kohli was moulded to battle tough times with ease after his father, a lawyer, died suddenly in 2006. "Losing my father at a young age, the family business not doing too well, staying in a rented place. There were tough times for the family" says Kohli.

He was in the Indian squad that won the 2011 World Cup and made 35 in the final against Sri Lanka. He was branded a "limited overs specialist" as he patiently waited for the retirement of India's famed middle order. Kohli finally played his first Test in 2011 against the West Indies at Kingston scoring 4 and 15.

He was ranked No 1 by the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time in 2013. Despite India losing the final to Sri Lanka, Kohli was picked as the Man of the Tournament at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. Later in 2014, he became the top-ranked T20 batsman in the ICC rankings.

The following highlights summarise Kohli’s impact as a player and captain, his world records, and his enduring popularity both on and off the pitch.
• Scored over 26,000 runs in international cricket, fastest to many ODI milestones including 8,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 20,000 runs.[ipl +1]
• Holds the record for most centuries in ODI cricket (50), surpassing Sachin Tendulkar, and scored 49 centuries in 277 innings.
• Player of the Tournament at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, scoring a record 765 runs at an average of 95.62.
• First batsman ever to score double centuries in four consecutive Test series.
• Captain of the first Indian Test team to win a series in Australia (2018-19).
• Led India to victory in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, earning Player of the Match in the final.
• Set the record for the most runs (973) in a single IPL season (2016), and became the only player to play for one IPL franchise throughout (RCB), with the most matches, runs, centuries, and fifties in IPL history.
• Ended an 18-year wait for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru by leading them as skipper to their first IPL title in 2025.
• Named ICC Cricketer of the Year multiple times and Time 100 Most Influential People (2018).
• Fastest captain to score 5,000 runs in Test cricket and holds the most double centuries as an Indian Test captain.
• Achieved international recognition for fitness, sportsmanship, and social media influence with over 270 million Instagram followers.
• Stand named after him at the Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi) while still an active player.

On-Field Achievements

Kohli is recognized as one of cricket’s greatest batsmen, especially in limited-overs formats. He broke records for most ODI centuries, became India’s leading IPL run-scorer, and played pivotal roles in India’s victories at the 2011 World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, and 2024 T20 World Cup. As Test captain, he led India to historic series wins, including their first in Australia in 2018-19, and held the ICC Test Mace for five consecutive years.

Leadership and Captaincy

As captain, Kohli set unprecedented standards for mental toughness, personal fitness, and intensity, reshaping the team’s attitude and work ethic. He energized both teammates and fans with his visible passion and tenacity, galvanizing Indian cricket through belief and resilience in the face of adversity.

Source: CricketCrowd Staff Reporter