Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, born on November 5, 1988, is a celebrated Indian international cricketer renowned for his exceptional batting prowess and leadership skills. As the former all-format captain of the Indian national cricket team, Kohli has made an indelible mark in the world of cricket, being hailed as one of the greatest all-format batsmen in history. His right-handed batting style and occasional right-arm medium pace bowling have contributed to his impressive career, which includes the most centuries in One Day Internationals and the second-most centuries in international cricket overall, with a remarkable total of eighty-five tons across all formats.

Kohli's journey in cricket began with his pivotal role in leading the Indian team to victory in the 2008 U19 World Cup. He was instrumental in the national team's triumphs in the 2011 ODI World Cup, the 2013 Champions Trophy, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy. In the Indian Premier League, he plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and represents Delhi in domestic cricket. His accolades include being the most successful Test captain of India, achieving the highest number of wins and retaining the Test mace three consecutive times.

Throughout his career, Kohli has consistently ranked at the top of various batting charts, becoming the first player to earn over nine hundred rating points across all three formats. He was named the Cricketer of the Decade for the period from 2011 to 2020 and has received ten ICC Awards, making him the most awarded player in international cricket history. His achievements include winning the ODI Player of the Year award four times and the Cricketer of the Year award twice. In 2018, he made history by winning all three major awards in the same year.

In addition to his on-field success, Kohli has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017, and the Khel Ratna Award in 2018, India's highest sporting honor. His influence extends beyond cricket, as he was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. With estimated earnings of six hundred thirty-four crore rupees in 2022, Kohli is regarded as one of the most commercially viable athletes globally.

After leading the Indian team to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and earning the Player of the Match award in the final, Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is. On May 12, 2025, at the age of thirty-six, he announced his retirement from Test cricket. Off the field, he is married to actress Anushka Sharma, and they are proud parents to two children, Vamika and Akaay Kohli.