Virat Kohli Biography: Early Life, Cricket Career, Records, and More

Introduction

Virat Kohli is one of the most iconic and consistent cricketers of the modern era. Known for his fiery passion, unmatched batting consistency, and leadership qualities, Kohli has carved a legacy in international cricket that places him among the all-time greats.

Early Life and Background

Childhood and Family

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India, to Prem Kohli, a criminal lawyer, and Saroj Kohli, a homemaker. He has an elder brother, Vikash, and an elder sister, Bhavna.

Education

He studied at Vishal Bharti Public School and later joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at age 9 under coach Rajkumar Sharma.

Domestic Cricket Career

Kohli started his domestic journey with Delhi and rose to prominence after captaining India to victory in the 2008 U-19 World Cup.

• First-Class Debut: 2006 vs Tamil Nadu
• U-19 World Cup Champion (Captain) – 2008

International Career

Test Career

Debuted in June 2011 vs West Indies. Became the first Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia (2018-19). Scored 7 double centuries.

ODI Career

Debuted in August 2008 vs Sri Lanka. Fastest to 12,000 runs. Known for his match-winning centuries in chases.

T20I Career

Debuted in June 2010 vs Zimbabwe. Highest run-scorer in T20I history. Named Player of the Tournament in 2014 & 2016 T20 World Cups.

IPL Career and Teams Played For

Virat Kohli has played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since 2008. He scored a record 973 runs in the 2016 IPL season.

• Team: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2008–present)
• Captaincy: 2013–2021
• IPL Runs: 7,000+ (as of 2025)

Playing Style

Batting

Kohli is a right-handed top-order batsman known for cover drives, chase mastery, and consistent performance across formats.

Bowling

Occasional right-arm medium bowler, rarely used in matches.

Major Records and Achievements

• Fastest to 8k–12k ODI runs
• Most centuries in ODI chases
• 7 Test double centuries
• Most T20I runs
• 50+ average across formats (for years)

Awards and Recognitions

• Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna – 2018
• Padma Shri – 2017
• Arjuna Award – 2013
• ICC Cricketer of the Year – 2017, 2018
• Multiple ICC Player of the Year titles

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Married actress Anushka Sharma in 2017. They have two children: daughter Vamika (born 2021) and son Akaay (born 2024).

Lifestyle and Business

Follows a vegetarian diet and strict fitness routine. Owner of brands like Wrogn and One8. Runs the Virat Kohli Foundation.

Unknown or Interesting Facts

• Nicknamed “Cheeku” by a coach.
• Plays despite high fever (Asia Cup 2012 vs Pakistan).
• Huge fan of Ronaldo and Federer.
• Included in Time’s 100 most influential people (2018).

FAQs about Virat Kohli