The record holder for the most ODI centuries. The highest run-scorer in IPL history. The only Indian to be ranked No. 1 across all three formats at the same time.
Virat Kohli is not just a record-breaker, he has spent nearly two decades to redefine the theory of modern-day batter. Born in Delhi on November 5, 1988, the right-handed star has achieved milestones that many cricketers only dream of. From leading India to victory in the 2008 U19 World Cup as a young captain to scoring 85 international centuries, his journey reflects consistency, discipline, and excellence at the highest level.
From making his ODI debut at just 19 to scoring a record 765 runs in a single World Cup edition, Kohli’s career has been truly remarkable. His rise from a talented youngster to one of the greatest players of all time is a story of hard work, passion, and an unmatched hunger for runs.
Here’s everything you need to know about one of the finest batters in modern cricket history.
Virat Kohli: Personal Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Virat Kohli |
| Date of Birth | November 5, 1988 |
| Age | 37 years |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India |
| Father | Prem Kohli (advocate) |
| Role | Top-order Batsman |
| Batting Style | Right Handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm Medium Pace |
| Domestic Team | Delhi |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| IPL Price | ₹21 Crore (2025 Mega Auction) |
| National Honours | Arjuna Award (2013), Padma Shri (2017), Khel Ratna (2018) |
| ICC Award | Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020) |
Virat Kohli: International Career and IPL Stats
Here are the stats for Virat Kohli across his international and IPL careers.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests (Retired 2025) | 123 | 210 | 9,230 | 254* | 46.85 | 55.57 | 31 | 30 |
| ODIs (Active) | 311 | 290 | 14,797 | 183 | 58.71 | 93.82 | 77 | 54 |
| T20Is (Retired 2024) | 125 | 1117 | 4,188 | 122* | 48.69 | 137.04 | 38 | 1 |
| IPL Career | 271 | 263 | 8,840 | 113* | 39.81 | 133.35 | 65 | 8 |
Virat Kohli: Career Records & Milestones
Apart from a prolific career as a batsman, he has broken multiple records, which are given below:
- Holds the record for the most centuries in ODI cricket (54), breaking the long-standing record of Sachin Tendulkar with 49 centuries.
- The highest run-scorer in IPL history, with over 8,840 runs in 271 matches, and the only player to cross 8,000 runs in the league.
- Scored a record 973 runs in a single IPL season (2016), the highest ever in one edition.
- The only batter to achieve 900+ ICC rating points in all three formats, Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
- Became the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs in 287 runs, achieving this milestone during the 2025 Champions Trophy.
- The first cricketer to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade (2010–2019), showing unmatched consistency.
- India’s most successful Test captain, with 40 wins in 68 matches as skipper.
- Scored 765 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the highest in a single edition, and was named Player of the Tournament.
- Also holds the record for being the fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 runs in ODIs.
National Honours
- Arjuna Award (2013), India’s second-highest sporting honour
- Padma Shri (2017), India’s fourth-highest civilian award
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2018), India’s highest sporting honour
- ICC Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020)
- ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012, 2017, 2018, and 2023
Virat Kohli: Early Life & Journey To the National Team
Virat’s journey from a middle-class Delhi neighborhood to the summit of world cricket is one of sport’s great stories. His father, Prem Kohli, an advocate, recognised his son’s talent early and enrolled him in cricket coaching at the West Delhi Cricket Academy under coach Rajkumar Sharma at the age of nine.
The most defining moment of Kohli’s early career came when his father passed away overnight while Virat was 18. The following morning, Kohli went out and batted in a Ranji Trophy match, scored 90 runs to save Delhi from follow-on, and returned home only after stumps. That incident defined the character of the man: relentless, committed, and refusing to let anything break his concentration.
Just two years after losing his father, Kohli captained the India Under-19 team in the 2008 World Cup held in Malaysia. He led the team to victory, defeating South Africa in a rain-affected final on March 2, 2008.
This tournament turned him into a household name in India. His aggressive leadership and tactical bowling (he even took crucial wickets in the semi-final against New Zealand) showed he was ready for the big stage.
Leading the Under-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2008 was the ultimate launchpad for Virat Kohli. Within just a few months, he transitioned from a youth prospect to a professional cricketer in both the IPL and the senior Indian team.
The IPL held its inaugural Under-19 draft shortly after the World Cup. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) seized the opportunity and drafted Kohli. He made his IPL debut in the tournament’s first match on April 18, 2008, against KKR.
Entry Into the Senior Indian Team (August 2008)
His entry into the national side was a “surprise call-up” that came sooner than expected.
In August 2008, India was touring Sri Lanka for an ODI series. Both legendary openers, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, were ruled out due to injuries. On August 18, 2008, just five months after his U-19 triumph, Kohli walked out to open the batting for India in Dambulla. He was only 19 years old.
Solidifying His Spot (2009)
Despite a solid start, he was dropped from the team for a short period when the seniors returned. He fought his way back through a sensational performance in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia in 2009, where he was the leading run-scorer.
In December 2009, during an ODI against Sri Lanka in Kolkata, Kohli scored his maiden International Century (107). When Gautam Gambhir was named Man of the Match, he famously handed the trophy to the young Kohli, recognizing that a future superstar had officially arrived.
Virat Kohli: Career Timeline
Since his birth, Virat Kohli has achieved considerable success in his career, as shown in the following table.
| Date | Event | Age |
|---|---|---|
| November 1988 | Born in Delhi | — |
| 2006 | Delhi Ranji Trophy debut | 18 years |
| August 2008 | ODI debut vs Sri Lanka | 19 years |
| 2008 | Captained India to the U19 World Cup title | 19 years |
| June 2011 | Test debut vs West Indies, Kingston | 22 years |
| 2011 | Part of India’s ODI World Cup-winning squad | 22 years |
| 2013 | Awarded the Arjuna Award; reached the No. 1 ODI ranking | 24 years |
| 2013 | Part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning squad | 24 years |
| 2015 | Appointed full-time Test captain | 26 years |
| 2016 | 973 IPL runs in a season | 27 years |
| 2018 | Became No. 1 Test batsman, only Indian to top all three format rankings | 29 years |
| 2018–19 | Led India to its first-ever Test series win in Australia | 30 years |
| 2019 | First player to score 20,000 international runs in a decade | 30 years |
| 2023 | 765 runs in the ODI World Cup, Player of the Tournament | 34 years |
| Saturday, June 1, 2024 | Retired from T20 Internationals after India’s T20 World Cup win | 35 years |
| 2025 | Won the first IPL title with RCB after an 18-year wait | 36 years |
| 2025 | Won the Champions Trophy with India | 36 years |
| Thursday, May 1 | Retired from Test cricket after 123 matches and 9,230 runs | 36 years |
Virat Kohli: Playing Style
Virat Kohli is a right-handed top-order batter known for his perfect technique, strong mindset, and unmatched consistency across all formats. He has built a reputation as one of the greatest run-scorers in modern cricket, especially in pressure situations.
His ability to chase targets has earned him the famous nickname “Chase Master.” He has 8420 runs while chasing in ODI cricket, only behind Sachin Tendulkar’s 8720 runs.
Comparisons: He is often compared to Sachin Tendulkar for his consistency and hunger for runs, and to Ricky Ponting for his aggressive mindset and leadership qualities.
Signature Shots: Kohli’s cover drive is considered one of the best in cricket. His straight drive is equally powerful, played with perfect balance and timing, often leaving bowlers helpless.
Bowling: He can bowl right-arm medium pace occasionally, but it is rarely used at the international level.
Fielding: Kohli is one of the best fielders of his generation. He is quick, alert, and very sharp in the covers, with an accurate and powerful throwing arm. In his 559 international matches, he has taken 342 catches, the most by any Indian player.
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Conclusion: Virat Kohli is The King of Cricket
At 37, Virat Kohli has already achieved what no batter in history has, the most ODI centuries ever recorded, the most runs in IPL history, a maiden IPL title after an 18-year wait, and ICC trophies across every format of the game.
His IPL career numbers, over 8,700 runs across 269 matches, are extraordinary for any batter in the world’s most competitive T20 league. Now playing only ODIs and the IPL, and free from the demands of Test cricket, Kohli enters IPL 2026 as a defending champion with one thing still burning bright, the desire to score more runs, break more records, and remind the world why they call him King.
