Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli (born 5 November 1988) is an Indian international cricketer and one of the most accomplished batters in the history of the sport. Widely regarded for his consistency, aggressive mindset, and exceptional fitness, he has represented the Indian national cricket team across all formats and has captained India in Test, One Day International (ODI), and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket. Kohli has also been a long-time player and former captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the course of his career, Kohli has broken numerous batting records, including becoming one of the fastest players to score thousands of international runs. He is among the leading century-makers in international cricket and has consistently ranked among the world's best batsmen across formats.

## Early life

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India, to Prem Kohli and Saroj Kohli. He developed an interest in cricket at an early age and joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy under coach Rajkumar Sharma. Kohli represented Delhi in domestic cricket before leading the India Under-19 team to victory in the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

## Career

### Early career

Kohli made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India against Sri Lanka in August 2008. Initially playing as a middle-order batsman, he soon established himself as one of India's most dependable players across all formats of the game.

### International success

Kohli became one of the world's leading batsmen through his consistent performances in Test, ODI, and T20 International cricket. He captained the Indian cricket team across all three formats and led India to numerous bilateral series victories. Under his captaincy, India achieved the No. 1 ICC Test ranking and recorded historic overseas Test wins.

### Indian Premier League

Virat Kohli has represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008. He served as the franchise captain for several years and remains one of the highest run-scorers in IPL history. His 973-run season in IPL 2016 remains the highest run tally by a player in a single IPL edition.

[Official website](https://viratkohli.foundation)

## Personal life

Virat Kohli married Indian actress Anushka Sharma on 11 December 2017. The couple have two children and are involved in various charitable initiatives through the Virat Kohli Foundation. Kohli is also known for his commitment to fitness, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy.

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## Awards and honors

Kohli has received numerous national and international honours, including the Arjuna Award (2013), Padma Shri (2017), Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (2018), and multiple ICC awards such as ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year. He is among the leading run scorers and century-makers in international cricket.

## Legacy

Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. His consistency, leadership, and emphasis on fitness have transformed modern Indian cricket and inspired millions of aspiring cricketers around the world.

## See also

India national cricket team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Indian Premier League, ICC Cricket World Cup, Test cricket

## References

International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), ESPNcricinfo, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.

## External links

ICC Player Profile, BCCI Player Profile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli Foundation