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Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli (born 5 November 1988) is an Indian international cricketer and former captain of the India national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in modern cricket, he is known for his aggressive playing style, consistency across all formats, and fierce leadership. Kohli has scored over 25,000 international runs and holds numerous batting records in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is[1]. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, Khel Ratna, and Arjuna Award, and was named the ICC Player of the Decade (2010–2020)[2].
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| Born | 05 November 1988 (age 36) Delhi, India |
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Cricketer |
| Known for | Batting across formats, Indian captaincy, centuries |
| Notable works | 2011 World Cup, 2018 Australia Test Series, ICC Player of the Decade |
| Awards | Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award |
| Website | |
Early Life
Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India, into a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Prem Kohli, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, is a homemaker. From a very young age, Virat showed a deep interest in cricket. His family recognized his talent early and enrolled him in the West Delhi Cricket Academy in 1998 when he was just 9 years old[3]. His coach, Rajkumar Sharma, played a vital role in shaping his technique and discipline.
Despite personal tragedy, including the death of his father in 2006, Kohli continued to pursue cricket with unwavering focus — famously playing a Ranji match for Delhi the very next day[4].
Education
Virat Kohli attended Vishal Bharti Public School in Delhi during his early years. Recognizing his cricketing potential, his family moved him to Saviour Convent School in Paschim Vihar[5].
Career
Virat Kohli’s career took off after leading India to victory in the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia[6]. He made his ODI debut in the same year against Sri Lanka and was part of the squad that won the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup[7].
IPL Career
Kohli has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL since 2008. He became the full-time captain in 2013 and led the side till 2021[8]. He scored a record 973 runs in a single IPL season (2016), a feat yet to be matched[9].
Captaincy
Kohli took over India’s Test captaincy in 2014 and later led the team in all formats[10]. Under his leadership, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018–19[11].
Achievements
Records
Personal Life
Virat Kohli married actress Anushka Sharma in December 2017 in Tuscany, Italy[17]. The couple is known for their work in charity and co-runs the Virat Kohli Foundation, which promotes youth sports[18].
References
- ↑ ESPNcricinfo – Virat Kohli Profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 ICC Player of the Decade – Kohli
- ↑ BCCI Official Profile – Virat Kohli
- ↑ ESPNcricinfo – Virat Kohli Stats and Biography
- ↑ HT – Kohli’s School Life
- ↑ ICC – U19 World Cup 2008: India Wins Under Kohli
- ↑ India Wins 2011 World Cup – ESPN
- ↑ IPL Official Profile – Kohli
- ↑ HT – Kohli’s 973-run season
- ↑ BBC – Kohli as Test Captain
- ↑ India Wins Test Series in Australia – Cricinfo
- ↑ Awardees List – Padma Shri
- ↑ PIB – Khel Ratna 2018
- ↑ Kohli 82* vs Pakistan – T20 World Cup 2022
- ↑ ESPN Stats – Fastest to ODI Milestones
- ↑ IPL Stats – Most Runs
- ↑ Vogue – Virat & Anushka Wedding
- ↑ Official Site – Virat Kohli Foundation