Virat Kohli is a professional cricketer and the former captain of the Indian national team. He was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India. Kohli began playing cricket at a young age and made his debut for Delhi in domestic cricket when he was just 18 years old. In August 2008, he made his debut for the Indian national team in an ODI against Sri Lanka.

Since then, Kohli has become one of the most successful and decorated cricketers in the world. He has scored over 28,000 runs in all three formats of the game and has won numerous awards for his performances. Known for his aggressive playing style, incredible fitness, and unmatched consistency, Kohli has redefined modern batting across all formats.

Kohli has also captained the Indian team to multiple victories, including the historic Test series against Australia in 2020-21. Under his captaincy, India won 40 out of 68 Test matches, making him the most successful Indian Test captain.

His importance to the Indian team cannot be overstated. Kohli is the anchor of the batting lineup, a master of run-chases, and a leader who leads by example. His playing style is characterized by perfect technique, exceptional hand-eye coordination, and an ability to rotate strike effortlessly while finding boundaries at will.

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in Uttam Nagar, West Delhi, into a close-knit Punjabi household. He was the youngest of three siblings – an elder brother, Vikash, and an elder sister, Bhavna. His father, Prem Kohli, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, a homemaker.

When Virat was just three years old, he would pick up a cricket bat, start swinging it, and ask his father to bowl at him. Recognizing the early spark, his father enrolled him at the West Delhi Cricket Academy at the age of nine. Kohli received his training under coach Rajkumar Sharma and also played matches at the Sumit Dogra Academy. Each day, before sunrise, his father would drive him across town for practice, waiting patiently through long hours of training.

A defining moment came in December 2006. In the middle of a Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, Kohli’s father passed away suddenly due to a stroke. Despite the tragedy, the 18-year-old returned to the crease the next morning and scored a match-saving 90 runs. That innings remains one of the most courageous moments in cricket history and showcased the mental toughness that would define his career.

Virat Kohli started his domestic career as part of the Delhi team. His maiden first-class appearance for Delhi came in November 2006 against Tamil Nadu.

Ranji Trophy: Kohli has registered 1,574 runs in his 23 appearances for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, striking five centuries at an average of 50.77. His best performance came in the 2009-10 season, where he aggregated 374 runs in three matches. Kohli’s Ranji heroics paved the way for his Test debut in 2011.

IPL Career: Kohli made his IPL debut in 2008 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru). His first IPL captain was Rahul Dravid. Over the years, he has become the IPL’s highest run-scorer, the only player with more than 9,000 runs in the tournament.

Youth Career: Kohli first rose to prominence during a domestic Ranji Trophy match in his debut season when he scored 90 to save the match against Karnataka.

Virat Kohli made his Test debut on June 20, 2011, against West Indies in Kingston. In 123 Test matches, he has scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. His highest Test score is 254*. Kohli is one of only a few batsmen to score four Test double-hundreds in four consecutive series. He also holds the record for the most Test wins as captain of India, with 40 wins out of 68 matches. He retired from Test cricket in January 2025.

Kohli made his ODI debut on August 18, 2008, against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. He has played 311 ODIs, amassing 14,797 runs at an extraordinary average of 58.71, with 54 centuries (world record) and 77 fifties. He holds the world record for the most centuries in ODIs. He is the fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 ODI runs.

Kohli made his T20I debut on June 12, 2010, against Zimbabwe. He played 125 T20Is, scoring 4,188 runs at an average of 48.70, with one century and 38 half-centuries. He was the first batter to cross 4,000 T20I runs. Kohli retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup.

• Most ODI centuries in history (54), surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 49.
• Fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 ODI runs.
• Most ODI centuries while chasing (27).
• Most runs in a single World Cup edition (765 runs in 2023).
• Most Test wins as captain for India (40).
• Four Test double-hundreds in four consecutive series.
• First batter to cross 4,000 T20I runs.
• Highest run-scorer in IPL history – the only player with 9,000+ runs.
• Only player to average 50+ in all three formats simultaneously.
• First cricketer to breach 900 ICC rating points in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
• Recipient of ICC ODI Cricketer of the Decade, Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Virat Kohli’s IPL journey began in 2008 when he was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru). He has remained with the franchise ever since, becoming the face of the team and one of the most iconic players in IPL history.

IPL Records: All-time leading run-scorer with 9,336 runs; Most centuries in IPL history with 9 hundreds; Most runs in a single season – 973 runs in 2016.

🔥 Breaking News IPL 2025 & 2026 – The Double: After a 17-year wait, Kohli and RCB achieved the double, winning back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026. In the 2026 IPL final, Kohli scored an unbeaten 75 off 42 balls to help RCB chase down 156 against Gujarat Titans and clinch their second successive title. However, he suffered a hamstring injury during that final, which kept him out of international cricket.

In May 2026, Kohli became the first Indian to score 10 T20 centuries – and just the fourth overall. He also became the fastest player of all time to score 14,000 T20 runs, reaching the milestone in 409 innings.

Virat Kohli married Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma on December 11, 2017, at Lake Como in Italy. The couple met in 2013 and have been one of the most high-profile and popular couples in India.

They welcomed their first child, daughter Vamika, on January 11, 2021. Their son, Akaay, was born on February 15, 2024.

Kohli credits Anushka for his no-meat lifestyle, saying she gave him “a new lease on life”. Despite their global fame, they continue to keep much of their life private while occasionally sharing glimpses of their values.

Kohli is also involved in charity work through his foundation, which supports underprivileged children and promotes sports.