1. Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 and is an Indian international cricketer who plays Test and ODI cricket for the national team and is a former captain in all formats.
150 Facts About Virat Kohli
1. 2.
Virat Kohli is a right-handed batsman and an occasional right arm medium pace bowler.
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Virat Kohli is called the king, the chase master and the run machine for his playing style, records and ability to lead the team to victory.
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Virat Kohli is the only captain to lead India to three consecutive Test mace wins during 2017,2018, and 2019.
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Virat Kohli is the only batsman to achieve 900 rating points in all 3 formats.
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Virat Kohli led the Indian team to victory at the 2008 U19 World Cup and was a key member of the teams that won the 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.
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Virat Kohli represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and Delhi in domestic cricket.
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In 2013, Virat Kohli was ranked number one in the ODI batting rankings.
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Virat Kohli is the first player to score 20,000 runs in a decade.
10.
Virat Kohli has garnered 10 ICC Awards making him the most awarded player in international cricket history.
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Virat Kohli won the ODI Player of the Year award four times in 2012,2017,2018, and 2023.
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Virat Kohli has won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy given to the Cricketer of the Year, on two occasions, in 2017 and 2018.
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Virat Kohli was awarded with Spirit of Cricket Award in 2019.
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Virat Kohli was awarded with Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade in 2020.
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Virat Kohli was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for three consecutive years, from 2016 to 2018.
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Virat Kohli has the most Player of the Series awards and second most Player of the Match awards to his name in all three formats combined.
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Virat Kohli was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017, and India's highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna Award, in 2018.
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Virat Kohli is married to actress Anushka Sharma and they have two children.
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Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi into a Punjabi Hindu family.
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Virat Kohli has an elder brother Vikas and an elder sister Bhawna.
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Virat Kohli would pick up a bat and request his father bowl to him.
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Virat Kohli was unable to secure a place in the U-14 Delhi team, due to extraneous factors.
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Virat Kohli received training at the academy and participated in matches at the Sumeet Dogra Academy located at Vasundhara Enclave.
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Virat Kohli took on cricket with newfound seriousness, prioritizing playing time and dedicating himself fully to the sport.
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Virat Kohli's family resided in Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar until the year 2015, after which they relocated to Gurgaon.
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Virat Kohli scored 54 runs in Delhi's victory over Himachal Pradesh.
27.
True to his word, Virat Kohli went on to score 228 runs, leading Delhi to victory.
28.
Virat Kohli ended as the highest run-scorer with a total of 757 runs from 7 matches, averaging 84.11.
29.
On 18 February 2006, Virat Kohli made his debut in List A cricket, playing against Services in the Ranji One-Day Trophy, but he did not get the opportunity to bat during the match.
30.
In 2006, Virat Kohli got a spot in the state senior team.
31.
Virat Kohli's innings proved to be crucial for Delhi as they were able to avoid the follow-on.
32.
In Sep 2008, Virat Kohli played in Nissar Trophy against SNGPL.
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Virat Kohli emerged as the leading scorer for Delhi in both innings, registering 52 runs in the first innings and a towering 197 in the second.
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Virat Kohli's performance reinvigorated the competitive spirit of the domestic cricket circuit.
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In July 2006, Virat Kohli was selected in the India Under-19 squad on its tour of England.
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Virat Kohli averaged 105 in the three-match ODI series against England Under-19s, while averaging 49 in the 3-match Test series.
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Virat Kohli concluded the tour with 80 runs in the final ODI game at Lahore.
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In early 2007, Virat Kohli was a part of the India U-19 team that toured New Zealand, where he scored 113 in the first Test match.
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Virat Kohli made a comeback with scores of 144 and an unbeaten 94 in the following Test series.
40.
Virat Kohli came into the limelight in 2008 when he led the team to victory in the U-19 World Cup.
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Virat Kohli led the Indian squad and won the 2008 U-19 World Cup held in Malaysia.
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Virat Kohli amassed 235 runs at an average of 47, ranking as the tournament's third-highest scorer and one of three cricketers to compile a century.
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Virat Kohli began his international cricket journey by joining the senior team in Colombo, having played 28 Under-19 ODIs and 12 Under-19 Tests.
44.
In 2008, Virat Kohli was included in the ODl squad for the Sri Lanka tour and the Champions Trophy.
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Virat Kohli was required to fill the role of makeshift opener throughout the Sri Lankan series.
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In Oct, Virat Kohli participate in a four-day tour match against Australia as part of the Indian Board President's XI team.
47.
In 2009, Virat Kohli was selected in the four-team Emerging Players Tournament in Australia.
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Virat Kohli went on to have a standout performance and finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer, with a total of 398 runs from seven matches, at an average of 66.33.
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Virat Kohli later stated that this tournament was a "turning point" in his career.
50.
Virat Kohli was utilized as a middle order batsman in the 2009 Champions Trophy.
51.
Virat Kohli scored his maiden ODI century, 107 off 114 balls while sharing a 224 run partnership with Gautam Gambhir.
52.
In January 2010, Virat Kohli played the tri-nation ODI tournament in Bangladesh.
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Virat Kohli was widely hailed for his performances, and ultimately emerged as the leading run-scorer of the series, with 275 runs from 5 innings at an impressive average of 91.66.
54.
Virat Kohli made his International T20 debut against Zimbabwe at Harare, where he scored an unbeaten 26.
55.
Virat Kohli scored a century, earning him the man of the match award.
56.
Virat Kohli was India's leading run-scorer in ODIs in 2010, accumulating 995 runs from 25 matches at an average of 47.38, including three centuries and seven half-centuries.
57.
Virat Kohli was India's leading run scorer in the five-match ODI series at the South African tour in January 2011, with 193 runs including two fifties.
58.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 in the first match against Bangladesh and became the first Indian batsman to score a century on his World Cup debut.
59.
When India toured the West Indies in June and July 2011, Virat Kohli was one of the three uncapped players in the Test squad.
60.
Virat Kohli made his Test debut at Kingston in the first match.
61.
Virat Kohli later scored his sixth ODI hundred, 107 runs off 93 balls with a 170 run partnership with Rahul Dravid who was playing his last ODI match.
62.
Virat Kohli scored a total of 270 runs across 5 matches at an average of 90.
63.
Virat Kohli was selected in the final match at Mumbai in which he scored a pair of fifties.
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Virat Kohli scored his 8th ODI century and his second at Visakhapatnam, where he made 117 off 123 balls in India's run chase of 270.
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Virat Kohli ended up as the leading run-getter in ODIs for the year 2011, with 1381 runs from 34 matches at 47.62 including four centuries and eight fifties.
66.
Virat Kohli finished the T20I series as the highest run-scorer from both sides with 231 runs to his name and 3 half-centuries at an average of 115.50.
67.
Virat Kohli scored a total of 249 runs, including a couple of half-centuries.
68.
Virat Kohli became the 2nd captain after Kapil Dev to win two tests in a series in England.
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Virat Kohli managed to score 161 runs in 4 innings and could not play the 2nd test of the series due to back spasm.
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Virat Kohli completed hundred Test matches, becoming only the 12th Indian cricketer to play these many matches.
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Virat Kohli rated this as his best innings in the format due to the magnitude of the game.
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Virat Kohli finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 296 runs to his name at an average of 98.66.
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In 2023, Virat Kohli started off with a 100 against the touring Sri Lankan side in ODI.
74.
Virat Kohli's performance led to him to becoming the fifth highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, by beating Mahela Jayawardene.
75.
Virat Kohli's performance led India to a victory by a margin of 317 runs.
76.
Virat Kohli scored a century in the final test at Ahmedabad.
77.
Virat Kohli achieved the milestone of the fastest to score 13,000 ODI runs.
78.
Virat Kohli reached the landmark in his 267th innings going past Sachin Tendulkar who took 321 innings to achieve this feat.
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Virat Kohli made a century against Bangladesh and a 95 against New Zealand.
80.
Virat Kohli became the first batsman to hit 700 runs in a single World Cup edition.
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Virat Kohli surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the third highest run-scorer in ODIs.
82.
Virat Kohli was given the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 765 runs, the highest in a single edition in the history of the World Cup which consisted of three centuries with the highest batting average of 95.62.
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Virat Kohli is the fourth Indian to finish at the top of the World Cup's highest run scorer list.
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In 2024, India won the T20 World Cup and Virat Kohli contributed in the final by scoring 76 runs off 59 balls, thus becoming the player of the match.
85.
In 2024, during the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Perth Stadium, Virat Kohli scored his 81st century.
86.
Virat Kohli surpassed Mohammad Azharuddin's record of 156 catches, becoming the player with most catches in ODIs.
87.
Virat Kohli then scored 84 runs off 98 balls in the semi-final against Australia, helping India win by four wickets.
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Virat Kohli then surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for most 50-plus scores in ICC ODI tournaments, with 24 scores, along with being India's top run-scorer in Champions Trophy history.
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Virat Kohli became the second batter, after Ricky Ponting, to complete 12,000 ODI runs at the number 3 position.
90.
Virat Kohli is the first cricketer to score 1,000 runs and ten 50+ scores in ICC knockouts.
91.
Virat Kohli scored 56 runs against the Delhi Daredevils, and was awarded the player of the match for the first time in the tournament.
92.
Virat Kohli contributed to the team's chase in a must-win match but his dismissal led to a batting order collapse, thus resulting in a defeat.
93.
Virat Kohli was the highest run-scorer of the tournament and won the orange cap as well as the title of the most valuable player with 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08.
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Virat Kohli is a consummate surgeon at the crease, intensely focused, working hard, playing the ball into gaps in the field and staying calm under pressure.
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Virat Kohli is always judging the right time to consolidate and the right time to seize a game by the scruff of the neck.
96.
Virat Kohli surpassed 500 runs in the season, a feat he accomplished for a record fifth time.
97.
Virat Kohli officially announced the end of his tenure as the captain of RCB.
98.
Virat Kohli's performances led to him clinching the record of most centuries in the league.
99.
RCB was eventually eliminated and Virat Kohli ended the season with 639 runs at an average of 53.2 and a strike rate of 140.
100.
Virat Kohli surpassed the 8000 runs mark in total and won his second orange cap for being the highest run-scorer with 741 runs.
101.
Virat Kohli has stated he tried to mirror Tendulkar's style of batting, imitating his shots and attempting to hit sixes in a similar manner.
102.
Virat Kohli has been lauded as the "new king of world cricket" by Dean Jones, a former Australian cricketer.
103.
Tendulkar proclaimed that Virat Kohli possesses the potential to surpass his record of 100 international centuries.
104.
Virat Kohli acknowledged Kohli's batting aptitude and steadfastness of accumulating runs.
105.
In 2024, Virat Kohli became the fastest player to score 27,000 runs in international cricket.
106.
Virat Kohli surpassed Tendulkar's record, achieving the feat in 594 innings compared to Tendulkar's 623, during the Test against Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium.
107.
Virat Kohli has been noted for his agile footwork, expansive range of strokes, and his propensity for adeptly orchestrating innings whilst thriving in high-pressure situations.
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Virat Kohli is appreciated for his ability to execute wrist shots and his consistent prowess in the mid-wicket and cover region.
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Virat Kohli has often expressed his admiration for the cover drive, which he considers to be his signature stroke.
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Virat Kohli uses the flick shot, particularly when facing deliveries aimed towards leg stump.
111.
Virat Kohli has a vulnerability to deliveries that are wide of the off-stump.
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Cricket experts such as VVS Laxman and former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar have acknowledged this weakness, and former New Zealand cricketer Richard Hadlee has noted that Virat Kohli is particularly susceptible to out-swinging deliveries.
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Virat Kohli has amassed 28 of his 51 ODI hundreds in run-chases, and holds the record for the most hundreds scored batting second.
114.
Virat Kohli has often expressed a fondness for the challenge of chasing a score, relishing the opportunity to test himself and demonstrate his ability to manage strike rotation and execute boundary hits.
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Virat Kohli's playing style is aggressive, a trait that extends to his leadership on field.
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Virat Kohli's captaincy is characterized as proactive, taking decisions and leading the team by example.
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Virat Kohli has been the subject of much media scrutiny and criticism in the early stages of his career.
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Virat Kohli was often portrayed as a brash and arrogant individual, eliciting mixed reactions.
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In 2018, Virat Kohli disclosed that he had made the decision to adopt a vegetarian diet in an effort to alleviate the symptoms of a cervical spine issue caused by elevated levels of uric acid.
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Virat Kohli made a conscious effort to abstain from consuming meat, as part of his regimen for maintaining optimal health.
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Virat Kohli has since clarified that his dietary choices do not align with a vegan lifestyle and he continues to consume dairy products and eggs effectively making what is known in India as an eggetarian.
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Virat Kohli has acknowledged a belief in superstitions and owns various lucky charms and rituals that he feels serve to bring him good fortune on the cricket field.
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Furthermore, Virat Kohli has been observed sporting a kara, a traditional bangle often worn for religious or spiritual purposes, on his right arm since 2012.
124.
Virat Kohli has tattoos of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, the sacred syllable "Om", the names of his parents, Prem and Saroj, a tribal emblem, a representation of a serene monastery, a samurai warrior, the astrological symbol of the scorpion, and his ODl and Test match cap numbers.
125.
In 2008, Virat Kohli was approached by sports agent Bunty Sajdeh of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment after his performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
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In 2017, Virat Kohli entered into an endorsement agreement with Puma that spanned over eight years and was estimated to be worth around 1.1 billion.
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Virat Kohli is the most followed Asian individual on the social media platform Instagram, with over 270 million followers on the platform.
128.
In 2017, Virat Kohli was recognized by Forbes as the seventh "Most Valuable Brand among Athletes", with a brand estimation of $14.5 million.
129.
In 2019, Virat Kohli was the only cricketer included in Forbes' list of "World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes".
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Virat Kohli was ranked 100th on the list, with earnings estimated at $25 million, with $21 million being procured through endorsements, and the remainder from salary and tournament winnings.
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Furthermore, in March 2019, Virat Kohli was named the brand ambassador of the mobile esports platform, Mobile Premier League.
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Virat Kohli's earning potential continued to climb, and in 2020, he attained the 66th spot in Forbes compilation of the top 100 highest-paid athletes in the world for the year 2020, with estimated earnings exceeding $26 million.
133.
In 2012, Virat Kohli was recognized as one of the best-dressed men by the fashion magazine GQ, appearing on their annual list.
134.
In 2019, on the eleventh anniversary of his international debut, Virat Kohli was honoured with a stand named after him at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, making him the youngest cricketer to receive such a recognition.
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Virat Kohli invested in Indian Super League club FC Goa, which he co-owned as of 2024.
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In 2014, Virat Kohli partnered with Anjana Reddy's Universal Sportsbiz to launch the fashion brand WROGN.
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Additionally, in late 2014, Virat Kohli became a shareholder and brand ambassador for the London-based social networking venture Sport Convo.
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Virat Kohli's involvement aimed to promote and raise awareness of the platform, which was focused on providing a space for sports fans to connect and engage with one another.
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In 2015, Virat Kohli invested a sum of 90 crore towards the establishment of a chain of health clubs and fitness centers throughout India.
140.
Virat Kohli became a co-owner of the JSW-owned Bengaluru Yodhas franchise in the Pro Wrestling League.
141.
In 2017, Virat Kohli partnered with the German sportswear brand, Puma, to launch his athletic lifestyle brand, One8.
142.
That same year, Virat Kohli established Nueva, a fine dining establishment located in New Delhi.
143.
Virat Kohli's foundation has organized several charity events to raise funds for its causes, including football matches featuring Indian cricketers and Bollywood actors.
144.
In 2016, the Virat Kohli Foundation entered into a partnership with Smile Foundation to promote the empowerment of underprivileged children and young people.
145.
In 2017, Virat Kohli established the Athlete Development Programme as a platform for nurturing and supporting aspiring young athletes.
146.
Virat Kohli is the only cricketer to have been named the Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup on two separate occasions, in 2014 and 2016.
147.
Virat Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI tons and achieved this feat on 15 November 2023 in the semifinal of the 2023 ODI World Cup, while becoming the first player to score more than 700 runs in a single edition of the tournament.
148.
Furthermore, in international cricket, Virat Kohli has amassed 82 centuries, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 100 centuries.
149.
In 2018, Virat Kohli set a record, becoming the first player to score 1,000 ODI runs in 11 innings in a calendar year.
150.
Virat Kohli has the most ODI centuries and the second most centuries in international cricket, as a result.