Virat Kohli facts for kids

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Virat Kohli

Kohli in 2023

Personal information

Born

5 November 1988 (age 36)
Delhi, India

Nickname

Cheeku
King Kohli
Chase Master

Height

5 ft 9 in (175 cm)

Batting

Right-handed

Bowling

Right-arm medium

Role

Top-order batter

Relations

Anushka Sharma

(m. 2017)

International information

National side

India (2008–present)

Test debut (cap 269)

20 June 2011 v West Indies

Last Test

30 December 2024 v Australia

ODI debut (cap 175)

18 August 2008 v Sri Lanka

Last ODI

23 February 2025 v Pakistan

ODI shirt no.

T20I debut (cap 31)

12 June 2010 v Zimbabwe

Last T20I

29 June 2024 v South Africa

T20I shirt no.

Domestic team information

Years

Team

2006–present

Delhi

2008–present

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Career statistics

Competition	Test	ODI	T20I	FC
Matches	123	299	125	156
Runs scored	9,230	14,085	4,188	11485
Batting average	46.85	58.20	48.69	48.05
100s/50s	30/31	51/73	1/38	37/39
Top score	254*	183	122*	254*
Balls bowled	175	662	152	643
Wickets	0	5	4	3
Bowling average	–	136.00	51.00	112.66
5 wickets in innings	–	0	0	0
10 wickets in match	–	0	0	0
Best bowling	–	1/13	1/13	1/19
Catches/stumpings	120/–	158/–	54/–	152/–

Medal record

Men's cricket

Representing India
ODI World Cup
	2011 India / Bangladesh / Sri Lanka	{{{3}}}
Second	2023 India	{{{3}}}
T20 World Cup
	2024 West Indies / United States	{{{3}}}
Second	2014 Bangladesh	{{{3}}}
World Test Championship
Second	2021 England	{{{3}}}
Second	2023 England	{{{3}}}
Champions Trophy
	2013 England / Wales	{{{3}}}
Second	2017 England / Wales	{{{3}}}
Asia Cup
	2010 Sri Lanka	{{{3}}}
	2016 Bangladesh	{{{3}}}
	2023 Pakistan / Sri Lanka	{{{3}}}
U19 World Cup
	2008 Malaysia	{{{3}}}

Source: ESPN Cric Info, 8 August 2024

Virat Kohli (born 5 November 1988) is a famous Indian cricketer. Many people think he is one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He holds the amazing record for scoring the most centuries in One Day International (ODI) matches.

Kohli is also known as one of the most successful athletes in business. He is often ranked among the highest-paid sports stars around the world.

Early Life and Cricket Start

Virat Kohli was born in Delhi, India, on 5 November 1988. He grew up in a Punjabi Hindu family. His father, Prem Kohli, was a lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, was a homemaker. He has an older brother, Vikas, and an older sister, Bhawna.

Virat spent his early years in Uttam Nagar and started school at Vishal Bharti Public School. His father saw his talent in cricket and wanted him to get professional training. He believed Virat's skills were too good for just playing gully cricket (street cricket).

Virat trained at the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA). He later moved to Saviour Convent School for his ninth grade. Virat loved cricket so much that he would travel long distances with his father for practice. He worked hard to improve his skills and learn many different shots. This earned him a lot of respect from local bowlers.

Cricket Career Highlights

Virat Kohli has been a very important player for the Indian cricket team. He helped India win the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. As captain, he also led India to win the ICC Test Championship three times in a row (2017, 2018, and 2019).

In 2013, Virat became the number one ODI batsman in the ICC rankings. By 2015, he was also the top T20I player. In 2018, he became the best Test batsman. This made him the only Indian cricketer to be ranked number one in all three types of cricket games. He was the first player to score 20,000 runs in just one decade. In 2020, the International Cricket Council named him the male cricketer of the decade.

Virat has won many awards for his great performances. He won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award four times (2012, 2017, 2018, and 2023). He also won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Cricketer of the Year) twice, in 2017 and 2018. In 2018, he was the first player to win both the ICC ODI and Test Player of the Year awards in the same year. He was also named the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for three years in a row (2016 to 2018). In India, he received the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017, and India's highest sports honor, the Khel Ratna award, in 2018.

How Virat Plays Cricket

Kohli playing his famous flick shot in CWC 2015

Virat Kohli is known for his aggressive playing style. This also shows in his leadership as captain. He makes bold decisions and leads his team by setting a great example.

When he bats, Virat usually prefers to hit the ball along the ground instead of trying big, powerful shots. He is very good at wrist shots. He often scores runs in the mid-wicket and cover areas of the field.

Virat has often said he loves the cover drive shot, calling it his signature move. His batting focuses on ground shots that mostly get runs between deep square leg and mid-on. Virat is known for his calm batting and his ability to play in many different ways.

Personal Life

Kohli with wife Anushka Sharma in their Mumbai reception

Virat Kohli started dating Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in 2013. People often called them "Virushka." On 11 December 2017, they got married in a private ceremony in Florence, Italy. They became one of the most talked-about celebrity couples in India.

On 11 January 2021, they had their first child, a daughter named Vamika. Her name comes from Sanskrit and means "little goddess." On 15 February 2024, the couple welcomed their second child, a boy named Akaay.

Beyond Cricket

Kohli at the opening ceremony of the Pro Kabaddi League in June 2016

Virat Kohli is not just a cricket star; he is also active in other fields like football and fashion.

In 2024, Kohli became a co-owner of FC Goa, a team in the Indian Super League (a football league). This shows he wants to help football grow in India. It also helps him plan for his future after his cricket career.

In 2014, Kohli worked with Anjana Reddy to create a cool clothing brand called WROGN. This brand sells stylish casual clothes. WROGN has become very popular with young people because of its trendy designs.

In 2015, Virat invested in a chain of gyms called Chisel. He did this to encourage fitness across India. He also started Stepathon Kids to help children be active and healthy.

In 2017, he launched his own sports brand called One8. He partnered with the sportswear company Puma for this. One8 offers sports clothes and shoes for active people.

Kohli has also opened restaurants. He has a fine dining restaurant called Nueva in New Delhi. He also has a chain of restaurant-bars called One8 Commune, which are popular places to eat.

Helping Others

Virat Kohli at charity dinner for Smile Foundation

In 2013, Virat Kohli started the "Virat Kohli Foundation." Its goal is to help children who are not as lucky. The foundation works with different NGOs (non-profit groups) to raise awareness and support for various causes. Virat wants to create a better future for children. He does this by running sports programs and giving them the things they need.

In 2017, Kohli started the Athlete Development Programme (ADP). This program helps young athletes who want to become professionals. It gives them full support in coaching, training, fitness, competitions, and nutrition. This helps them grow and develop. The program has helped many young sports people, including tennis player Swastika Ghosh and golfer Aadil Bedi.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Virat and his wife Anushka Sharma gave money to the PM CARES Fund and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Both Virat and Anushka care a lot about animal welfare. They have also given their own money to help wild animals.

Interesting Facts About Virat Kohli

Virat became interested in cricket very early. When he was just three years old, he would pick up a cricket bat and ask his father to bowl to him. He showed natural talent even then.
His father was very important in supporting his cricket training when he was a child.
Virat has said that he uses different lucky charms. He feels these bring him good luck on the cricket field.
He prefers to wear a specific pair of gloves. He has worn them consistently because he believes they bring him success.
Virat has many tattoos. These include the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, the sacred symbol "Om", his parents' names (Prem and Saroj), a tribal emblem, a peaceful monastery, a samurai warrior, the astrological sign of the scorpion, and his ODI and Test match cap numbers.
Many people compare Virat's batting style to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Virat himself sees Sachin as the best in cricket.
In 2018, Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Career Summary

Virat Kohli has scored 82 centuries (scores of 100 runs or more) in international cricket. This includes 7 double centuries. He has 30 centuries in Test cricket (with 7 double centuries). He has 51 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs), which is a record, beating Sachin Tendulkar's number. He also has 1 century in T20I matches.

Test Match Performance

This graph shows Virat Kohli's runs in each Test match (blue and red bars). The black line shows his average runs over his career.

ODI Match Performance

This graph shows Virat Kohli's runs in each ODI match (blue and red bars). The black line shows his average runs over his career.

T20I Match Performance

This graph shows Virat Kohli's runs in each T20I match (blue and red bars). The black line shows his average runs over his career.

Virat Kohli is a very important player in Indian cricket history. He is the only cricketer to be named Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup twice (in 2014 and 2016). He holds the record for the most ODI centuries with 51. He passed Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries on 15 November 2023, during the semifinal of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. In that same tournament, he became the first player to score over 700 runs in a single World Cup.

In all international cricket, Kohli has scored 80 centuries. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 100 centuries, has more. In 2018, Kohli set a record by being the first player to score 1,000 ODI runs in just 11 innings in one year. In 2022, he reached another milestone by scoring 1,000 runs in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He was the second player to do this after Mahela Jayawardene. During a match against Bangladesh, he became the top scorer in the history of the T20 World Cup.

Records and Achievements

Centuries against nations
Opponent	Test	ODI	T20I
Afghanistan	–	–	1
Australia	9	8	–
Bangladesh	2	5	–
England	5	3	–
New Zealand	3	6	–
Pakistan	–	4	–
South Africa	3	5	–
Sri Lanka	5	10	–
West Indies	3	9	–
Zimbabwe	–	1	–
Total	30	51	1

Test Records

Most wins as captain for India: 40 wins out of 68 matches.
Most Test double-centuries by an Indian player (7).
Most Test double-centuries (3) in two years in a row (2016 & 2017).
His highest rating in ICC Men's Test player rankings was 937 points in 2018, which is the highest for an Indian.

ODI Records

Most ODI centuries (51).
Most ODI centuries while chasing a target (28).
Most ODI centuries scored in India (22).
Most runs in a single ODI World Cup (765 runs in 2023).
His highest rating in ICC Men's ODI player rankings was 911 points in 2018, which is the highest for an Indian.
Fastest to - 8,000 runs (175 games), 9,000 runs (194 games), 10,000 runs (205 games), 11,000 runs (222 games), 12,000 runs (242 games), 13,000 runs (267 games) and 14,000 runs (287 games).

T20I Records

Highest career batting average in T20I – 48.69.
Most runs in a single T20I World Cup (319 runs in 2014).
Fastest to - 3,000 runs (81 games), 3,500 runs (96 games), and 4,000 runs (107 games).
Most Player of the Match awards (15 times) and Player of the Series awards (7 times).

IPL Records

Most runs in Indian Premier League history (8,004).
Most runs in a single IPL season (973 runs in 2016).
Only player to be part of three partnerships over 200 runs. Two with AB de Villiers and one with Chris Gayle.
Most runs scored against Delhi Capitals (1,030).
Most centuries in the league (8) and in a single season (4).

Awards and Honours

National Awards

Year	Award	Importance
2013	Arjuna Award	Second Highest Sporting Honor
2017	Padma Shri	Fourth Highest Civilian Award
2018	Khel Ratna Award	Highest Sporting Honor

International Awards

Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade): 2011–2020
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Cricketer of the Year): 2017, 2018
ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade: 2011–2020
ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year: 2012, 2017, 2018, 2023
ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year: 2018
ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year: 2012, 2014, 2016 (captain), 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain), 2019 (captain), 2023
ICC Men's Test Team of the Year: 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain), 2019 (captain)
ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year: 2022
ICC Spirit of Cricket: 2019
ICC Men's Test Team of the Decade: 2011–2020 (captain)
ICC Men's ODI Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (Player of the Tournament): 2023
ICC Men's T20I World Cup (Player of the Tournament): 2014, 2016
Polly Umrigar Award for International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2016, 2017, 2018
ICC Men's Player of the Month: October 2022
CEAT International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2013–14, 2017– 18, 2018–19
Indian Premier League Orange Cap for most runs: 2016, 2024
Barmy Army – International Player of Year: 2017, 2018
ESPNcricinfo – ODI Batting Performance of the Year: 2012

Other Honours

People's Choice Awards India for Favourite Sportsperson: 2012
GQ Sportsman of the year: 2013
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year: 2017
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Person of the Year: 2019
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) renamed a stand after Kohli at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

Gallery

Kohli receiving the Arjuna Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in August 2013
Kohli receiving the Padma Shri award from President Pranab Mukherjee in March 2017
Kohli receiving the Khel Ratna Award from President Ram Nath Kovind in September 2018
Kohli meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in 2017
Prime Minister Of Bharat Shri Narendra Damodardas Modi with Shri Virat Kohli.jpg

Kohli with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on July 4, 2024