Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi ,India. He is a right-handed batsman . Kohli is widely known as one of the greatest batters of the modern era because of his consistency, aggressive approach, fitness, leadership and ability to perform under pressure.
Kohli represented India at senior international level for the first time in 2008 after wining the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup , where he is the captain of his team . He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in August 2008 and after that he established himself as one of India’s most important batters. His Test debut was against the West Indies in 2011, while his T20I bebut was in 2010.
Over the year of his international career, Kohli became one of the most successful run-scorers in cricket history. He has scored more than 28,000 international runs across Tests, ODIs and T20Is. He has also scored more than 85 international centuries.
Kohli played an important role in India’s major tournament successes, including the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy , 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy-winning in 2025 .
Kohli retired from T20I cricket immediately after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025 after a 14-year Test career. He continues to represent India in ODI cricket.
Virat Kohli’s Early Life and Cricket Journey
Virat Kohli was born and raised in Delhi. He developed an interest in cricket at a very young age and his family supported his ambition to become a professional cricketer.
Kohli joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy as a youngster, where he trained under coach Rajkumar Sharma. His performances at the junior level helped him to progress through Delhi cricket and eventually into India’s Under-19 setup.
His biggest breakthrough at youth level came in 2008, when he captained India to victory in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. Soon after that success, he made his senior international debut for India.
Virat Kohli’s Family
Virat Kohli was born to Prem Nath Kohli and Saroj Kohli in Delhi. His father worked as a criminal lawyer and his mother was a homemaker. He has one elder brother his name is Vikas Kohli and an elder sister name is Bhawna Kohli .
Kohli married to Indian actress Anushka Sharma in December 2017 in an intimate ceremony in Italy. The couple have two children, a daughter named Vamika Kohli and a son named Akaay Kohli .
His family has played an important role in his life and his cricket career. Kohli has also spoken publicly about his father’s influence on his cricketing development and his determination to continue playing cricket after his father’s death in 2006.
Virat Kohli’s International Cricket Career
Virat Kohli’s international career began in 2008 with his ODI debut against Sri Lanka. He initially established himself as a dependable limited-overs batter before becoming a major figure across all three international formats. To know about all three cricket format cleck here
His first ODI century came against Sri Lanka in 2009. Over the following years, he became particularly famous for his performances while chasing targets, earning the reputation of one of the greatest chase batters in international cricket.
Kohli eventually became India’s captain across formats. Under his Test captaincy, India became one of the strongest teams in world cricket and achieved India’s first-ever Test series victory in Australia during the 2018–19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He captained India in 68 Tests and won 40 of them, making him India’s most successful Test captain.
According to the BCCI, Virat Kohli has played 123 Test matches, 314 ODIs, and 125 T20Is. He has scored 9,230 runs in Tests, 14,941 runs in ODIs, and 4,188 runs in T20Is.
Virat Kohli’s Test Career
Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011. Over the next 14 years ,he become one of the most successful Test batters and captains in Indian cricket.
Kohli played 123 Test matches and scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 254 not out against South Africa in Pune in 2019.
One of the most impressive parts of his Test career was his record as captain. Kohli captained India in 68 Test matches, winning 40. Under his leadership, India became the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia during the 2018–19 series.
Kohli also holds the Indian record for the most Test double centuries by an Indian batter, with seven double centuries. He scored Test centuries in Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, showing his ability to perform in different conditions.
Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, bringing his Test career to an end after 123 matches.
Virat Kohli’s Test Career Statistics
- Matches: 123
- Innings: 210
- Not outs: 13
- Runs: 9,230
- Highest score: 254*
- Batting average: 46.85
- Strike rate: 55.58
- Centuries: 30
- Half-centuries: 31
Virat Kohli’s ODI Career
Virat Kohli’s ODI career is the most successful part of his international batting career.
He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in 2008 and quickly became an important member of India’s limited-overs team. His ability to chase targets, rotate the strike and convert starts into centuries made him one of the most consistent ODI batters in cricket history.
According to BCCI lists Kohli with 314 ODI matches, 302 innings, 47 not-outs and 14,941 runs. His highest ODI score is 183, and he has a batting average of 58.59. He has scored 54 ODI centuries and 79 half-centuries.
One of the biggest moments of his ODI career came during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. Kohli scored 765 runs in the tournament, the most runs scored by a batter in a single men’s Cricket World Cup. He was named Player of the Tournament.
During the semi-final against New Zealand in Mumbai, Kohli scored 117 and became the first batter to reach 50 ODI centuries. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 49 ODI centuries.
Kohli also returned to the No. 1 position in the ICC ODI batting rankings in January 2026. The ICC reported that it was his 11th time reaching the top position and that he had spent 1,547 days at No. 1, the most by an Indian batter.
Virat Kohli’s ODI Career Statistics
- Matches: 314
- Innings: 302
- Not outs: 47
- Runs: 14,941
- Highest score: 183
- Batting average: 58.59
- Strike rate: 93.95
- Centuries: 54
- Half-centuries: 79
Virat Kohli’s T20I Career
Virat Kohli played 125 T20 International matches for India and scored 4,188 runs at an average of 48.70. His highest T20I score was 122 not out, and he scored one century and 38 half-centuries.
Kohli became one of the most successful players in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. He was named Player of the Tournament in both the 2014 and 2016 editions.
At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli produced his most important T20I performance in the final against South Africa. He scored 76 runs from 59 balls, helping India reach 176/7. India eventually defeated South Africa by seven runs and won their first Men’s T20 World Cup title after 2007.
Immediately after the final, Kohli announced his retirement from T20 International cricket.
Virat Kohli’s T20I Career Statistics
- Matches: 125
- Innings: 117
- Not outs: 31
- Runs: 4,188
- Highest score: 122*
- Batting average: 48.70
- Strike rate: 137.04
- Centuries: 1
- Half-centuries: 38
Virat Kohli’s IPL Career
Virat Kohli represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) throughout his IPL career and has been with the franchise since the inaugural 2008 season. He is the only player to have played for the same franchise in every IPL season.
Kohli become one of the most successful batters in IPL history because of his consistency, longevity and remarkable run-scoring record. He is currently the highest run-scorer in IPL history.
By the end of the 2026 IPL season, Virat Kohli played 283 matches and scored 9,336 runs at a batting average of 40.42 and a strike rate of 134.80. His IPL record includes 9 centuries and 68 half-centuries, with a highest score of 113. He has also hit 844 fours and 316 sixes.
The 2025 season was particularly special for Kohli and RCB because the franchise won their first IPL title. Kohli scored 657 runs in 15 matches, averaging 54.75 with a strike rate of 144.71. He scored 43 runs in the final against Punjab Kings as RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs to win their maiden IPL championship.
The 2026 IPL season was another highly successful campaign for Kohli. He scored 675 runs in 16 matches, averaging 56.25 and striking at 165.85. He scored 1 century and 5 half-centuries, with his highest score being 105 not out. His 675 runs placed him among the leading run-scorers of the 2026 tournament.
RCB also successfully defended their IPL title in 2026. In the final against Gujarat Titans, Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 from 42 balls, helping RCB secure another IPL championship.
Kohli’s IPL career is particularly remarkable because he spent his entire IPL career with RCB. By the end of 2026, he had played 283 matches, making him the player with the most IPL appearances for a single franchise.
Virat Kohli’s IPL Career Statistics
- Matches: 283
- Innings:275
- Not outs: 44
- Runs: 9,336
- Highest score: 113
- Batting average: 40.42
- Strike rate: 134.80
- Centuries: 9
- Half-centuries: 68
- Fours: 844
- Sixes:316
- IPL wickets: 4
- Teams: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2008–2026)
Virat Kohli’s Major Records and Achievements
Virat Kohli has established numerous records during his international career.
Some of his most notable achievements include:
- 9,230 Test runs
- 14,941 ODI runs
- 4,188 T20I runs
- More than 28,000 international runs
- 30 Test centuries
- 54 ODI centuries
- 1 T20I century
- 85* international centuries
- First batter to score 50 ODI centuries
- Most ODI centuries in men’s international cricket
- Most runs in a single men’s Cricket World Cup: 765 in 2023
- Player of the Tournament at the 2023 Cricket World Cup
- 40 Test victories as India’s captain
- India’s most successful Test captain
- Seven Test double centuries, the most by an Indian batter
- India’s first Test series victory in Australia as captain
- Player of the Tournament at the 2014 and 2016 T20 World Cups
- Match-winning 76 in the 2024 T20 World Cup final
- Member of India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup-winning team
- Member of India’s 2013 Champions Trophy-winning team
- Member of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team
- Member of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy-winning team
- ICC ODI Player of the Year multiple times
- ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade
- ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade
Virat Kohli’s Awards and Honours
Virat Kohli has received many major awards for his contribution to Indian cricket.
Some of his most important honours include:
- Arjuna Award (2013): Awarded for his outstanding achievements in cricket.
- Padma Shri (2017):India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
- Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2018):** India’s highest sporting honour.
- ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2012, 2017, 2018, 2023.
- ICC Test Player of the Year: 2018.
- Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year: 2017, 2018 and 2020.
- ICC Spirit of Cricket Award: 2019.
- ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade: 2020.
- ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade: 2020.
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