Virat Kohli made headlines when he relinquished his role as the Test captain of Team India following their loss in a Test series against South Africa. The announcement was made via his social media accounts on January 15, which surprised many cricket fans and pundits.
Before this, in 2021, Kohli had already disclosed his decision to step down as India’s T20I captain after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup held in the same year. In December 2021, Rohit Sharma took over the reins as the captain for India’s white-ball formats.
Virat Kohli Biography | Birth, Age, Family and Education
Virat Kohli, popularly known by his nickname “Chiku,” was born on 5th November 1988, making him 33 years old. He hails from a loving family, with his mother Saroj Kohli and father Prem Kohli being a significant influence on his life. Kohli pursued his early education at Vishal Bharti Public School and later attended Saviour Convent.
Standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall, Virat Kohli is a prominent cricketer known for his extraordinary skills as a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium bowler. His prowess on the cricket field has earned him immense respect and admiration from fans worldwide. In December 2017, Kohli tied the knot with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, and they share a daughter named Vamika.
With a staggering net worth of approximately Rs. 980 crores, Kohli has not only excelled in cricket but also ventured into various endorsements and business ventures, contributing to his financial success. He stays connected with his fans through his Instagram account @virat.kohli.
Throughout his career, Kohli has been the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket. His journey from a promising young talent to one of the greatest batsmen in the game’s history has left an indelible mark on the sport, making him a cricketing icon for generations to come.
Virat Kohli Cricket Career
Virat Kohli’s cricketing journey has been filled with remarkable achievements and significant moments. He began his training at the West Delhi Cricket Academy under Rajkumar Sharma when the academy was established in 1998. His cricket debut came in October 2002, representing the Delhi Under-15 team in the Polly Umrigar Trophy, and he later led the team to further success. Kohli’s exceptional performance in the Delhi Under-17 team earned him recognition as the highest run-scorer in the 2003-04 Vijay Merchant Trophy.
At the age of 18, he made his first-class debut for Delhi against Tamil Nadu, marking the beginning of his professional cricketing career. Subsequently, he debuted for the Under-19 team during India’s tour of England in July 2006, where India emerged victorious in both ODI and Test series. Kohli’s prowess continued to shine, and he made his T20 debut the following year, emerging as the highest run-scorer in the Inter-State T20 Championship with an impressive 179 runs.
The year 2008 proved to be a turning point for Kohli. He captained the Under-19 Cricket World Cup-winning team, displaying his leadership skills and guiding the squad to victory. In the same year, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for $30,000 on a youth contract during the IPL auctions, and he also made his international debut.
Throughout his career, Kohli continued to amass records and accolades, becoming the first Indian batsman to score a century on a World Cup debut during India’s victorious 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign. He achieved several milestones in Test, ODI, and T20 cricket, earning the title of the fastest batsman to reach various run marks and centuries.
Kohli’s journey in captaincy began as vice-captain during the tri-series in Zimbabwe in 2010. Over time, he took on leadership roles in various tournaments, including the 2012 Asia Cup, the 2013 West Indies tri-series, and the 2014 ICC World T20. He became the full-time Test captain of India after MS Dhoni’s retirement from Test cricket and impressed with his batting prowess and leadership abilities.
As captain, Kohli led India to numerous victories, including whitewashing Sri Lanka in the ODI series and making history as the first batsman to score three consecutive centuries in ODIs. He captained the Indian team in ICC tournaments, such as the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
However, his captaincy also faced some challenges, with India losing the 2021 ICC World Test Championship Final and not advancing to the finals in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. Similarly, his stint as the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL did not yield a championship win for the team.
Despite the ups and downs, Kohli’s legacy in cricket remains firmly established, and his contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark on the cricketing world.
Virat Kohli’s illustrious cricket career saw him make his debut and bid farewell in various formats of the game. In Test cricket, he debuted on 20th June 2011 against the West Indies and played his last Test match on 11th January 2022 against South Africa. Throughout his Test journey, Kohli amassed a staggering total of 7962 runs in 99 matches, including 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries.
In the One Day Internationals (ODIs), Kohli’s debut took place on 18th August 2008 against Sri Lanka, and he played his final ODI on 28th March 2021 against England. His ODI career was remarkable, amassing an incredible 12169 runs in 254 matches, with 43 centuries and 62 half-centuries to his credit.
For the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), Kohli made his debut on 12th June 2010 against Zimbabwe and concluded his T20I career on 8th November 2021 against Namibia. In T20Is, he accumulated 3227 runs in 95 matches, securing 29 half-centuries but falling short of achieving a century in the format.
Beyond international cricket, Kohli also showcased his talent in domestic and franchise cricket. In First-Class matches, he played 131 games, scoring 10211 runs, including 34 centuries and 36 half-centuries. Similarly, in List A matches, he participated in 288 games, amassing 13611 runs, which consisted of 47 centuries and 70 half-centuries.
In the shorter format of the game, T20 cricket, Kohli played 324 matches and scored a total of 10204 runs, with 5 centuries and 75 half-centuries.
Apart from his exceptional batting skills, Kohli occasionally dabbled in bowling. Although he didn’t claim any wickets in Test matches, he managed to take four wickets in ODIs and T20Is each. In First-Class cricket, he secured three wickets, and in List A and T20 matches, he claimed four and eight wickets, respectively.
Throughout his career, Kohli’s batting prowess and consistent performances earned him a well-deserved place among cricket’s all-time greats. His records and achievements have left an indelible mark on the sport, making him an icon for aspiring cricketers and fans around the globe.
 Virat Kohli Wife and Daughter
In 2013, Virat Kohli entered into a romantic relationship with renowned Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, and their pairing soon became affectionately known as “Virushka.” The couple decided to take their relationship to the next level and got married in a private ceremony on 11th December 2017 in the enchanting city of Florence, Italy. Together, they welcomed their daughter, whom they named Vamika, completing their beautiful family.
Virat Kohli Awards and Honours
Virat Kohli has received numerous prestigious honours and awards throughout his cricketing career.
National Honours:
- In 2013, he was bestowed with the Arjuna Award.
- The Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian awards, was conferred upon him in 2017.
- In 2018, he was honored with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting accolade in India.
Sports Honours:
- Kohli was recognized with the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for being the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade for 2011-2020.
- He received the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017.
- In 2012, he was named the ICC ODI Player of the Year.
- In 2018, he was acknowledged as the ICC Test Player of the Year.
- Kohli was repeatedly selected in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for 2012, 2014, 2016 (as captain), 2017 (as captain), 2018 (as captain), and 2019 (as captain).
- He was also consistently chosen in the ICC Test Team of the Year for 2017 (as captain), 2018 (as captain), and 2019 (as captain).
- The ICC recognized his sportsmanship with the Spirit of Cricket award in 2019.
- He was honored as the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade for 2011-2020.
- Kohli led the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade from 2011-2020.
- He was included in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Decade for 2011-2020.
- The ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Decade for 2011-2020 featured Kohli.
- He received the Polly Umrigar Award for International Cricketer of the Year in multiple years: 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18.
- Wisden, a prestigious cricket publication, recognized him as the Leading Cricketer in the World in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
- He was honored with the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year award for 2011-12, 2013-14, and 2018-19.
- The Barmy Army bestowed upon him the International Player of the Year title in 2017 and 2018.
Other Honours and Awards:
- In 2012, he was the recipient of the People’s Choice Awards India for Favorite Sportsperson.
- Kohli was named the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year in 2017.
- The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) renamed a stand after him at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, in recognition of his contributions to the game.
These awards and honors reflect Kohli’s exceptional talent, leadership, and sportsmanship, making him a true cricketing icon both nationally and globally.
