Virat Kohli

From Delhi Streets to International Stardom: Virat Kohli’s Early Years

Childhood passion and family support

Born into cricket: Virat Kohli’s story began on November 5, 1988, in Delhi. He was born into a Punjabi Hindu family – his mother Saroj was a housewife and father Prem Nath worked as a criminal lawyer. His love for cricket started early. At just three years old, he would grab a bat and ask his father to bowl to him. This early passion became the foundation of one of cricket’s most brilliant careers.

Family backing: A turning point came in 1998 when neighbors suggested that professional training would serve his natural talent better than street cricket. His father received offers to move his son to powerful clubs that guaranteed selection. Yet Prem Nath turned these down, choosing the right path over easy shortcuts. This decision helped shape Kohli’s character and his approach to cricket.

Educational journey: He first studied at Vishal Bharti Public School before moving to Savior Convent in ninth grade to focus on cricket. His family’s choice showed their dedication to nurturing his talent while balancing it with education.

Training under Rajkumar Sharma

The crucial meeting: Nine-year-old Virat and his father walked into the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA) on May 30, 1998. They met coach Rajkumar Sharma – a moment that changed cricket history. Sharma saw something unique in the young boy, noting how his throws “thudded into the gloves of the wicketkeeper”.

Disciplined development: Sharma’s guidance brought out Kohli’s dedication. “Virat never came late for the nets. He took great care of his gear. He wanted his pads and bats spotless. He always wanted to dominate,” his coach remembers. Sharma started the West Delhi Cricket Academy on May 30, 1998, which became famous for training talented batsmen like Kohli.

Personal tragedy: Life changed on December 18, 2006, during a Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka when Kohli’s father died from a cerebral attack. The next day, Kohli returned to bat and scored 90 runs, helping Delhi avoid the follow-on. His mental strength amazed his coaches and teammates. Chetan Chauhan noted his determination and steadfast attitude during this tough time.

U-19 World Cup triumph as captain

Rising through ranks: Kohli’s path to international cricket started in youth games. He played his first junior cricket match in October 2002 at Luhnu Cricket Ground against Himachal Pradesh, scoring his first domestic half-century at Feroze Shah Kotla. The 2003-04 season saw him lead the U-15 team and score his first century (119) against Jammu and Kashmir.

World Cup glory: Kohli’s youth career peaked when he led India to victory in the 2008 U-19 World Cup. The final happened on March 2, 2008, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. India beat South Africa by 12 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method). Kohli scored 20 runs while Tanmay Srivastava made 46 as India set 159 as the target. This victory gave India its second Under-19 World Cup title after Mohammad Kaif’s team won in 2000.

Domestic cricket breakthrough with Delhi

Ranji debut: His first-class career started on November 23, 2006, in the Ranji Trophy opener against Tamil Nadu. He scored just 10 runs. Starting at 18, he went on to score five centuries and five fifties for Delhi over six years.

Statistical excellence: The numbers tell his story. He made 257 runs in six matches at 36.71 average during the 2006/07 Ranji season. His game improved the next year with 373 runs in five matches at 53.28, including two centuries and a top score of 169. His best form came in 2009/10 and 2010/11 when he averaged 93.50 and 56.50. His final Ranji stats show 1,573 runs at 50.77, with five centuries and six fifties in 23 matches.

Family support: Kohli values family presence throughout his career. He now promotes having players’ families on tours, saying: “I don’t want to go to my room and just sit alone and sulk. I want to be able to be normal”. This comes from his early days when his family’s support helped him grow as both a cricketer and a person.

From Indian to the World

Breaking Into Team India: The Formative Years (2008-2013)

ODI debut against Sri Lanka

First international appearance: Virat Kohli got his first India cap on August 18, 2008, in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Dambulla. The 19-year-old stepped in to open the batting with Gautam Gambhir after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were sidelined due to injuries. His first international outing was brief – he scored 12 runs from 22 balls before Nuwan Kulasekara got him leg-before. The team struggled that day, getting bowled out for 146 and losing the match by eight wickets.

Struggles and early setbacks

Finding his footing: His debut wasn’t great, but Kohli bounced back quickly. He made valuable runs in his next four games, including a fifty. The road wasn’t smooth though. His IPL career started slowly too. He admits, “Playing in the IPL was something that I was not able to crack in first 3 seasons”. His numbers tell the story – just 718 runs in 45 games for Royal Challengers Bangalore between 2008-2010, nowhere near his later achievements.

Breakthrough moment: Things looked up for Kohli in 2009 when he hit his first ODI hundred against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens. He made 107 off 114 balls from the number four spot, while Gautam Gambhir stayed not out on 150. Their partnership helped India chase down 315 with seven wickets left. This knock put him on the map and gave everyone a glimpse of his chase skills that would soon become legendary.

The 2011 World Cup victory

World stage success: The 2011 Cricket World Cup in the Indian subcontinent turned out to be Kohli’s big moment. He started with a bang, scoring a century in his first World Cup game against Bangladesh. His bat spoke through the tournament – 282 runs in 9 matches at an average of 82.22. His steady presence at number 4 gave India’s batting the stability it needed.

Final flourish: The World Cup final against Sri Lanka saw Kohli chip in with a vital 35 runs. His knock helped India win their first World Cup in 28 years under MS Dhoni. Yes, it was a moment of glory for both Kohli and the nation, making him a cricket star early in his career.

Mastering the art of chase

Chase specialist: Kohli’s best skill showed up early – his ability to handle pressure during run chases. His mental strength while chasing targets earned him the nickname “Chase Master”. By 2013, he had become one of cricket’s best finishers, mixing aggression with smart batting perfectly.

Statistical dominance: His chasing numbers are mind-blowing – 27 centuries while batting second in ODIs, way ahead of Sachin Tendulkar’s 17. He has scored 5999 runs in 106 innings during successful chases and 8063 runs in 166 innings across all ODI chases. Among 237 batters with at least 1000 runs in ODI chases, Kohli stands alone with an average above 60.

Defining performances: Some of his best chases include an unbeaten 133 from just 86 balls against Sri Lanka in 2012. He topped that with his highest ODI score – 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup. These knocks proved what cricket fans already knew – Kohli had a special talent for timing run chases with amazing precision and cool-headedness.

Rise to Captaincy and Peak Performance (2014-2019)

Taking over Test captaincy from Dhoni

Leadership transition: December 9, 2014 became a defining moment in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli became Test captain against Australia in Adelaide. MS Dhoni stepped down midway through the Australia series. Kohli showed his aggressive leadership style right away. He scored twin centuries (115 and 141) in his first match as captain. His fearless batting and never-say-die attitude became the foundation of his leadership approach.

Captaincy records: Kohli’s India played with an aggressive mindset that focused on winning instead of just competing. His time as captain brought amazing results—40 wins in 68 Tests with a win percentage of 58.82%, the highest any Indian Test captain achieved. Kohli led India to 16 Test victories away from home, which was substantially more than Sourav Ganguly’s previous record of 11. India stayed at number one in Tests for 42 straight months from October 2016 to early March 2020 under his leadership.

Transformation into a fitness icon

Physical metamorphosis: Kohli’s dedication to fitness set new standards in Indian cricket. He lost about 13kg and started following an Olympic-style fitness routine. This included gym workouts, deadlift routines, and a protein-rich, low-carb diet. His fitness trip started after the 2012 IPL season. Poor results made him take a hard look at his physical condition.

Cultural revolution: Kohli started a fitness revolution in Team India. Fitness became non-negotiable under his captaincy as he pushed his teammates to reach higher standards. His personal trainer, Basu Shanker, said, “I have never ever seen a guy like Virat Kohli. He can do the simple, most boring things of life every day”. This disciplined approach led to a fundamental change that helped India become the top-ranked Test team during his time as captain.

The record-breaking 2016-18 period

Batting dominance: Kohli reached his peak across formats during 2016-18. He broke IPL records in 2016 by scoring 973 runs with four centuries in one season—a standard that still stands. His Test form was just as impressive. He became the third player after Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting to score three double hundreds in a calendar year.

Statistical supremacy: Kohli conquered cricket’s toughest challenges in 2018. Despite losing Test series overseas, he moved ahead of Steve Smith to become the top-ranked Test batsman. His overseas performances silenced critics—especially in England where he averaged 59, a huge improvement from his 2014 struggles. He scored 2,735 runs across all formats in 2018, more than 700 ahead of Joe Root who finished second.

Historic Test series win in Australia

Unprecedented achievement: Kohli’s captaincy peaked on January 7, 2019. India won their first-ever Test series on Australian soil. The historic 2-1 victory made India the first Asian team to reach this milestone. Kohli called it “the greatest moment of his career”. Solid batting from Pujara, excellent fast bowling by Bumrah, and Kohli’s aggressive captaincy led to this landmark win.

Legacy defining: This series victory created a blueprint for future Indian teams. It showed them they could succeed abroad. The win paved the way for India’s next series victory in Australia during 2020-21. These achievements cemented Kohli’s legacy as the captain who made India a dominant force in Test cricket globally.

Virat Kohli’s Record-Breaking Journey Across Formats

ODI milestones and centuries

Century Machine: Virat Kohli has redefined ODI batting excellence. He became the first batter to score 50 ODI hundreds and broke Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record. His quick rise to 14,000 ODI runs took just 287 innings—63 fewer than Tendulkar needed. He achieved this milestone during the 2025 Champions Trophy with a century against Pakistan that led India to a memorable six-wicket victory.

Statistical Dominance: No batter with over 6,000 runs matches Kohli’s ODI average of 58.20. His mastery in chases shows in his 26 centuries while batting second—this is a big deal as it means that he scored 9 more than Tendulkar’s 17. He excels in ICC tournaments too, with an average of 66.10 and 6 centuries across World Cups and Champions Trophies.

Test cricket achievements

Reliable Run-Scorer: Kohli’s Test cricket record shows 8,950 runs at 49.95 with 28 centuries and 28 half-centuries. His 50% conversion rate edges past Tendulkar’s rate at the same career point. He has scored Test hundreds against all but one of these countries he’s played against, missing only Bangladesh.

Double Century Specialist: Kohli’s Test record stands out with his 7 double centuries—more than any other Indian batter. He passed both Tendulkar and Sehwag who scored 6 each. His best Test innings of 254* came against South Africa in 2019.

T20 batting revolution

T20 Pioneer: Kohli changed T20 batting through technical excellence instead of power hitting. He became India’s first player to reach 13,000 T20 runs in 2025. This put him in an elite group with Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Shoaib Malik, and Kieron Pollard. His T20I career ended with 4,188 runs at an impressive 48.69 average.

IPL Dominance: Kohli owns several IPL records. He scored the most runs in a single season (973 in 2016) with four centuries. The IPL’s highest run-getter has over 8,000 runs and stands alone with eight IPL centuries.

Comparison with cricket legends

Beyond Tendulkar: Tendulkar leads in Test cricket with 15,921 runs, but Kohli beats him in many ways. After 14,000 ODI runs, Kohli’s average (58.20) and strike rate (93.41) are way ahead of Tendulkar’s (44.19 and 85.92). Kohli’s home average (60.23) and away average (54.48) also top Tendulkar’s (46.75 and 34.97) at similar career points.

Global Recognition: Kohli’s 10 ICC Awards make him international cricket’s most decorated player. His trophy cabinet has four ODI Player of the Year awards and two Sir Garfield Sobers Trophies as Cricketer of the Year. These achievements cement his place among cricket’s greatest players ever.

Recent Achievements and Career Evolution (2020-2025)

Captaincy resignation and aftermath

Sudden departure: Virat Kohli stepped down as Test captain in January 2022, just a day after India’s 2-1 series loss to South Africa. His announcement came after several public disagreements with the BCCI that started with his T20I resignation before the 2021 World Cup. His leadership brought India 40 wins from 68 Tests—the fourth-highest victory count in Test cricket history. Kohli’s captaincy created a lasting legacy with 16 overseas Test victories. India maintained the #1 ICC Test ranking for 42 consecutive months under his command.

T20 World Cup triumph and retirement

Fairytale farewell: Kohli achieved his dream by winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados in June 2024. He scored a match-winning 76 off 59 balls in the final against South Africa and earned Player of the Match honors. Right after the victory, he surprised everyone: “This was my last T20 game playing for India”. He ended his T20I career with 4,188 runs at an outstanding average of 48.69. Later, Kohli mentioned this decision was “an open secret” and he would have announced it regardless of the match result.

Champions Trophy success

Back-to-back glory: India captured the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, adding another achievement to Kohli’s career. He played a significant role throughout the tournament with an unbeaten century against Pakistan and a vital 84 against Australia. The victory celebration highlighted his team spirit: “To win titles, everyone must step up in different games. Over five matches, everyone put their hand up somewhere”. This victory gave him his fourth ICC title, which he called “truly a blessing”.

Reaching 13,000 T20 runs milestone

Historical achievement: Kohli became the first Indian to cross 13,000 runs in T20 cricket during IPL 2025. He achieved this milestone in his 386th innings, becoming the second-fastest globally after Chris Gayle (381 innings). This achievement placed him fifth on the all-time T20 run-scorers list behind Chris Gayle (14,562), Alex Hales (13,610), Shoaib Malik (13,557), and Kieron Pollard (13,537). His remarkable consistency shines through nine T20 centuries and 99 half-centuries across all competitions.

Key Achievements of Virat Kohli

Record-Breaking Batsman

• Fastest player to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 ODI runs.
• Holds the record for the most centuries in ODI chases.
• First cricketer to score 20,000 international runs in a decade (2010–2019).

Captaincy Milestones

• Led India to its first-ever Test series win in Australia (2018–19).
• Most Test wins as an Indian captain (40 victories).
• Under his leadership, India was ranked the No. 1 Test team for 42 consecutive months.

ICC Awards and Recognitions

• ICC ODI Player of the Year (2012, 2017, 2018).
• ICC Cricketer of the Year (2017, 2018).
• ICC Test Player of the Year (2018).
• Named ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade (2020).

IPL Excellence

• Scored over 7,000 runs in the IPL, making him one of the league’s all-time leading run-scorers.
• Holds the record for the most runs in a single IPL season (973 runs in 2016).

Consistent Performer

• Only cricketer to have an average above 50 in all three international formats (ODI, Test, T20I).
• Achieved 50 ODI centuries, surpassing Tendulkar’s record of 49 in 2023.

Global Recognition

• Named in the Forbes list of the world’s highest-paid athletes multiple times.
• Honored with India’s prestigious sporting awards, including the Arjuna Award (2013), Padma Shri (2017), and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2018).

Philanthropy and Impact

• Established the Virat Kohli Foundation, supporting underprivileged children and sports development.
• Promotes fitness and wellness as a global ambassador for a healthy lifestyle.

Impact on the Industry

Virat Kohli has redefined the landscape of modern cricket, both on and off the field. His unmatched consistency and adaptability across formats have set new benchmarks for performance, inspiring a generation of cricketers to elevate their game. Known for his fitness-first approach, Kohli has revolutionized the culture of Indian cricket by emphasizing physical fitness and stamina, paving the way for a more dynamic and athletic team. This shift has not only improved India’s performance but also influenced players globally to prioritize fitness as an integral part of their careers.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Kohli’s influence extends into the commercial aspects of the sport. He has become a brand ambassador for cricket, attracting global sponsors and boosting the marketability of the game. His association with the Indian Premier League (IPL), especially with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, has amplified the league’s appeal, drawing massive viewership and revenue. Additionally, Kohli’s ability to connect with fans through social media and philanthropic initiatives has strengthened cricket’s emotional and cultural resonance worldwide. As a modern-day icon, he continues to shape cricket’s evolution, leaving an indelible mark on the industry.

Giving Back

Virat Kohli’s contributions extend far beyond cricket, as he remains deeply committed to philanthropy and community welfare. Through the Virat Kohli Foundation, he has actively supported underprivileged children, providing them with education, healthcare, and opportunities to pursue sports. His foundation organizes events like the CEAT Cricket Ratings Awards and collaborates with other organizations to promote sports development at the grassroots level. Kohli’s dedication to nurturing young talent highlights his vision to create a more inclusive and empowered sports ecosystem in India.

In addition to his foundation’s efforts, Kohli has been a vocal advocate for wellness and fitness. He uses his platform to promote active lifestyles, raising awareness about the importance of physical and mental well-being. His contributions during times of crisis, such as donating to disaster relief funds and providing aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, further demonstrate his commitment to giving back to society. Kohli’s initiatives reflect his belief in making a meaningful difference, not just as an athlete, but as a responsible global citizen.

Key Takeaways

Relentless Determination

Virat Kohli’s journey from a budding cricketer in Delhi to an international icon underscores the power of perseverance and self-belief. His ability to overcome setbacks, including personal losses, and channel them into motivation is a testament to his resilience.

Commitment to Fitness

Kohli revolutionized Indian cricket by instilling a fitness-first culture, proving that physical and mental preparation are critical to success. His transformation from a talented youngster to one of the fittest athletes in the world is an inspiring example for aspiring sportspeople.

Adaptability Across Formats

Excelling in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, Kohli has set benchmarks for consistency. His focus on adapting his game to suit different conditions and formats demonstrates the importance of versatility in achieving sustained excellence.

Leadership with a Vision

As captain, Kohli led by example, pushing his team to new heights with a mix of passion, aggression, and tactical acumen. His success reaffirms the significance of leading from the front and setting high standards for others to follow.

Giving Back to Society

Beyond his cricketing achievements, Kohli’s philanthropic work and advocacy for wellness highlight the importance of using one’s platform to make a positive impact. His efforts to support underprivileged communities and promote grassroots sports development reflect his commitment to giving back.

Global Influence

Kohli’s stature as a global brand ambassador has not only enhanced the marketability of cricket but also positioned India as a powerhouse in sports. His ability to connect with fans worldwide showcases the role of athletes in bridging cultures and inspiring millions.

Global Indian Impact Analysis

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