Virat Kohli ( pronunciation (helpinfo)) (born 5 November 1988) is an Indian cricketer.

He is
the captain of the Indian Test cricket team.[1] A middle-order batsman, who can also bowl
right-arm medium pace,[2] Kohli captained the victorious Indian team at the 2008 U/19
Cricket World Cup held in Malaysia, and is the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore
franchise in the Indian Premier League.[3] He also represents Delhi in first-class cricket and
played for the West Delhi Cricket Academy.[4]
Kohli made his ODI debut in 2008 and was part of the Indian team which won the 2011
World Cup. Despite being a regular in the ODI side, Kohli only played his first Test in 2011
against West Indies in Kingston. But on the disastrous 2011/12 India tour of Australia, in
which India's senior batsmen struggled throughout, Kohli stood out, scoring his first Test
hundred in Adelaide.[5]
In One Day International (ODI) cricket, Kohli holds multiple records including the record for
the fastest century by an Indian batsman,[6] and the fastest to 17 hundreds in ODI by any
batsman.[7] He is the fourth batsman in ODIs after Sourav Ganguly (19972000), Sachin
Tendulkar (199698) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (200709) to hit 1000 or more ODI runs in
three or more consecutive calendar years.[7] He also holds the record for most centuries in
chases, with 11 centuries, behind only Sachin Tendulkar. He is the first batsman to make five
successive scores of 50 or more in ODIs on two separate occasions.[7]Kohli was the recipient
of the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2012.[8] SportsPro has rated him the 2nd most
marketable athlete in the world.[9] In October 2013, against Australia, Kohli smashed the
fastest ODI century by an Indian, the seventh fastest ever.[10] In November 2013, he became
the top ranked ODI batsman for the first time.[11] Kohli, also received the Man of the
Tournament during the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.[12]
Contents
[hide]

1 Early and personal life

2 Career
o

2.1 Early career

3 International career
o

3.1 2013

4 IPL career

5 List Of International Cricket Centuries by Virat Kohli

6 Playing style

7 Captaincy

7.1 One Day Internationals

7.2 Test cricket

8 Batting career summary

o

8.1 Runs by year (ODI)

9 Records and achievements

o

9.1 Fastest Century

9.2 Milestones

9.3 Most runs in a calendar year

9.4 Most centuries

9.5 Captaincy records

10 Awards
o

10.1 Test Man of the Match

10.2 ODI Man of the Match

11 Endorsements

12 See also

13 References

14 External links

Early and personal life

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi to Prem and Saroj Kohli.[13] He has an
elder brother, Vikash, and an elder sister, Bhavna.[14] Kohli attended school at Vishal Bharti
and Savier Convent. His father, Prem, worked as a lawyer and died in December 2006.[13] He
loves the Aston Martin, Ed Hardy shirts and is the only Indian cricketer with heavily tattooed
arms (a Golden Dragon on his forearm is apparently for luck).
Kohli is currently in a relationship with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma.[15]
Career
Early career

The West Delhi Cricket Academy was created in 1998 and Kohli was part of its first intake.[16]
Kohli first played for Delhi Under-15 team in October 2002 in the 200203 Polly Umrigar

Trophy. He was the leading run-getter for his team in that tournament with 172 runs at an
average of 34.40.[17] He became the captain of the team for the 200304 Polly Umrigar
Trophy[18] and scored 390 runs in 5 innings at an average of 78 including two centuries and
two fifties.[19] In late-2004, he was selected in the Delhi Under-17 team for the 200304 Vijay
Merchant Trophy. He scored 470 runs in four matches at an average of 117.50 with two
hundreds and top-score of 251*.[20] Delhi Under-17s won the 200405 Vijay Merchant Trophy
in which Kohli finished as the highest run-scorer with 757 runs from 7 matches at an average
of 84.11 with two centuries.[21] In February 2006, he made his List A debut for Delhi against
Services but did not get to bat.[22]
In July 2006, Kohli was selected in the India Under-19 squad on its tour of England. He
averaged 105 in the three-match ODI series against England Under-19[23] and 49 in the threematch Test series.[24] India Under-19 went on to win both the series. After the conclusion of
the tour, India Under-19 coach Lalchand Rajput was impressed with Kolhi and said, "Kohli
showed strong technical skills against both pace and spin".[25] In September, the India Under19 team toured Pakistan. Kohli averaged 58 in the Test series[26] and 41.66 in the ODI series
against Pakistan Under-19s.[27] In October, playing for Delhi Under-19s, he averaged 15 in the
Vinoo Mankad Trophy[28] and 72.66 in the Cooch Behar Trophy.[29] He was then picked in the
North Zone Under-19 squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in which he averaged 28 in two
matches.[30]
Kohli made his first-class debut for Delhi against Tamil Nadu in November 2006, at the age
of 18, and scored 10 in his debut innings. He came into the spotlight in December when he
decided to play for his team against Karnataka on the day after his father's death and went on
to score 90.[31] Delhi captain Mithun Manhas said, "That is an act of great commitment to the
team and his innings turned out to be crucial. Hats off to his attitude and determination."[32] He
scored a total of 257 runs from 6 matches at an average of 36.71 in that season.[33] In April
2007, he made his Twenty20 debut and finished as the highest run-getter for his team in the
Inter-State T20 Championship with 179 runs at an average of 35.80.[34] In JulyAugust 2007,
the India Under-19 team toured Sri Lanka. In the triangular series against Sri Lanka Under19s and Bangladesh Under-19s, Kohli was the second highest run-getter with 146 runs from 5
matches.[35] In the two-match Test series that followed, he scored 244 runs at an average of
122 including a hundred and a fifty.[36]
Kohli captained the victorious Indian team at the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup held in
Malaysia.[37] Batting at number 4, he scored 235 runs in 6 matches at an average of 47,
including a century against the West Indies U-19s.[38] He was also commended for making
several tactical bowling changes during the tournament.[39] His mother noted that "Virat
changed a bit after that day. Overnight he became a much more matured person. He took
every match seriously. He hated being on the bench. It's as if his life hinged totally on cricket
after that day."[13]
Kohli was instrumental in India's win of the 2009 Emerging Players Tournament in Australia.
In the final against South Africa, Kohli scored a century and India went on to win the game

by 17 runs. Kohli emerged as the leading run scorer of the tournament, aggregating 398 runs
from seven matches including two centuries and two fifties.[40]
International career

Following a hundred in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia in 2008, Kohli was
selected in the ODI squad for India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2008.[41] Kohli made his debut in
One Day Internationals against Sri Lanka in the Idea Cup in 2008 when both Sachin
Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were injured. He opened the batting in the first match, and
was dismissed for 12. But he made a crucial 37 in a low-scoring second match in the series,
which helped India win and level the series. He made his first half-century, a score of 54, in
the fourth match which helped India win the series. This was India's first ODI series win
against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. He was included in the squad for the home ODI series against
England later that same year but was not given a chance to play, due to the inclusion of
Tendulkar and Sehwag in team. Kohli was then dropped from the squad for the five-match
ODI series in Sri Lanka against Sri Lanka in January 2009.
Kohli played in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy after Yuvraj Singh was injured, and since
mid-2009 has been the reserve ODI batsman. Yuvraj regained fitness for the home series
against Australia, so Kohli only played in occasional matches in the series.
In the absence of the injured Yuvraj, Kohli got a chance to play in the 4th ODI when Sri
Lanka toured India in December 2009. He scored his first ODI century, milking singles with
Gautam Gambhir with whom he shared a 224-run partnership for the third wicket as India
won by seven wickets to seal the series 31.
Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was rested for the tri-nations tournament in Bangladesh in
January 2010 which enabled Kohli to play in each of India's five matches. After making nine
in the opening loss to Sri Lanka, he top-scored with 91 to help secure a win after India
collapsed early in their run chase against Bangladesh on 7 January 2010. He then ended
unbeaten on 71 to help win the match for India with a bonus point after they chased down
their target quickly. The next day, he scored his second ODI century, against Bangladesh,
bringing up the mark with the winning runs. He was much praised for his performances
during the tournament, and became only the third Indian to score two ODI centuries before
their 22nd birthday, following the footsteps of Tendulkar and Suresh Raina.[42] However, in the
final against Sri Lanka, he made only two as India collapsed to 5/60 and an eventual fourwicket defeat.

Virat Kohli batting against New Zealand in 2010.

Kohli was named vice-captain of the ODI side for the tri-series against Sri Lanka and
Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe in June 2010 as all the other first-choice players skipped the
tournament. In the same series, he became the fastest Indian to score 1,000 runs in ODI
cricket.[43] He was India's leading run-scorer in 2010, with 995 runs from 25 matches at an
average of 47.38 with three centuries.[44]
Kohli was included in the Indian squad for Zimbabwe T20I series in June-2010. Kohli made
T20I debut in the first match where he played an impressive innings with Yusuf Pathan, when
Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina were dismissed by Ray Price in the eighth over. Pathan and
Kohli counterattacked and took India to an easy win in the 15th over. Since then, he has been
a regular member in T20I matches for India.
2011 Cricket World Cup

Kohli was preferred over Raina for the 2011 World Cup and became the first Indian to score a
century on World Cup debut. He also scored 59 against West Indies while sharing a 122-run
partnership with Yuvraj Singh.[45] His 83-run partnership for the third wicket with Gautam
Gambhir was instrumental in India taking the upper hand during their run chase against Sri
Lanka in the final.[46] He made 282 runs in 9 innings at an average of 35.25.[47] Between
1 January 2009 and 1 September 2011, Kohli was India's second highest run-scorer in ODIs
with 1,994 runs at an average of 47.47.[48]
Test debut

When India toured the West Indies in June and July 2011, they chose a largely inexperienced
squad, resting Tendulkar and others such as Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag missing
out due to injuries. Kohli was one of three uncapped players in the Test squad.[49] India won
the Test series 10 but Kohli struggled on his debut in the format; he struggled with the short
ball[50] amassing just 76 runs from five innings.[51] Particularly troublesome for Kohli was the
fast bowling of Fidel Edwards, who dismissed him three times in the series.[52]
India tour of England in 2011

Initially dropped from the Test squad for India's four-match series against England in July
and August, Kohli was recalled as cover for the injured Yuvraj Singh,[53] though did not play
in the series.[54] He played in the subsequent ODI series, scoring 194 runs from five innings
including a century,[55] although India lost the series 30.[56] In October, England faced India in
a return ODI series in India. India won 50 and Kohli was the highest run-scorer on either
side with 270 across five matches and a highest score of 112 not out.[57][58]
West Indies tour of India in 2011

In NovemberDecember 2011, the West Indies toured India for three Tests and five ODIs.
Following his ODI success against England the previous month, Kohli was included in the

Test squad ahead of Raina. In competition with Yuvraj Singh for the number six position,[59] it
was not until the final match of the series that Kohli was selected in the team.[54] The match
ended in a draw, and having won the first two Tests, India took the series 20; Kohli scored a
pair of fifties in the match, passing his previous highest score of 30.[60] India won the
subsequent ODI series 41 and Kohli managed 243 runs at an average of 60.75 with a highest
score of 117.[61]
Australia Test series and CB series 2012

Kohli was included in India's squad for the tour of Australia in December 2011. After the first
Test at Melbourne, he felt his position in the team was in jeopardy,[62] and during the second
Test at Sydney, Kohli was fined half of his match fee for swearing at fans at the Sydney
Cricket Ground who were insulting him.[63] In an interview after the incident, he remarked
"Scoring eight hundreds in one-day internationals can't be a fluke. It's international cricket as
well. I don't know why people have been questioning my technique or temperament so
much. ... All of this is a learning curve for me. I am playing on difficult wickets, in
Australia."[62] Kohli top scored in each of India's innings in the third Test at Perth, with 44 and
75,[64] and in the fourth and final match at Adelaide, Kohli scored his maiden Test century of
116 runs in the first innings; it was the only century scored by an Indian in the series.[65] India
lost the series 40[66] and Kohli was the top scorer for India in the same series.[67]
India remained in Australia for the triangular ODI series, that followed the Tests; it was
contested by Australia, Sri Lanka and India. Kohli was India's leading run-scorer in the series
scoring 373 runs with two half centuries and a century again, the only century scored by an
Indian in the series.[68] Though India did not progress to the final,[69] the victory against Sri
Lanka in India's last match kept them in contention until the final fixture of the group stage.
Chasing 321 to win, Kohli came to the crease with India's score at 86/2 and went on to score
133 not out from 86 balls to take India to a comfortable win with 13 overs to spare. He was
named Man of the Match for his effort, which included scoring 24 runs from an over by
Lasith Malinga.[70]
2012 Asia Cup

He was named vice-captain of the ODI team for the 2012 Asia Cup in March.[71] He scored
183 off 148 balls against Pakistan in the fifth match of Asia Cup 2012, recording the jointfourth highest score by an Indian in ODIs. Coming in at 0/1, he struck 22 fours and a six to
take India to a record chase of 330. This is his highest score in ODIs and the highest
individual score in the Asia Cup. Kohli's innings is the highest individual innings for a
batsman against Pakistan in a ODI surpassing previous record by Brian Lara (156).[72][73]
New Zealand tour of India in 2012

Kohli made 212 runs in the two Test matches including a century and two half-centuries at an
average of 106. In the second Test at Bangalore, Kohli scored his second Test century. He

made 103 runs with 14 boundaries and one six in the first innings. In the second innings, he
made 51* runs and was awarded Man of the Match.[74]
2013
2013 ICC Champions Trophy

Kohli was included in the 15-man squad for the tournament. He played in the warm-up match
against Sri Lanka and scored 144 runs off 120 balls at a strike rate of 120 and led India to
victory.
West Indies Triangular Series in 2013

Dhoni was injured in the first ODI of the triangular series so Kohli led the team in the rest of
the ODIs. This was the first time Kohli became captain of the Indian Cricket Team.
Indian cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2013

Dhoni and other senior players were rested during Indian tour of Zimbabwe, so Kohli was
given the honour to lead the team. India won the series 50. As captain of the team for a full
series for the first time, Kohli scored 197 runs in five ODIs.
He smashed the fastest ODI century by an Indian and the seventh fastest ever against
Australia at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in October, 2013. Kohli's century off 52 deliveries was
the quickest by an India batsman beating Virender Sehwag's hundred off 60 balls against
New Zealand in Hamilton and the seventh fastest in ODIs.
Kohli's hundred is also the fastest against Australia in ODIs, beating Craig McMillan's 67ball ton in Hamilton in 2007. It was the third fastest hundred in a chase, after Shahid Afridi's
45-ball century against India at Green Park in 2005 and Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball hundred
against England in M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 2011 World Cup.
Kohli's 61-ball hundred at Nagpur against was India's third-fastest in ODIs. He came close to
bettering Virender Sehwag's 60-ball hundred for the second time in 15 days. In the second
match of this series, Kohli had broken India's record for the fastest-hundred in ODIs, which
was previously held by Sehwag.
Kohli has taken 112 innings to hit 17 hundreds in ODIs, 58 fewer than Sourav Ganguly who
was the fastest to 17 ODI hundreds before him. Saeed Anwar, the next quickest batsman to 17
ODI hundreds, took 177 innings.
Kohli scored his 11th hundred in chases and moved to second place, with Chris Gayle, in the
list of batsmen with most centuries in chases. Sachin Tendulkar heads the list with 17
hundreds in chases.

All of Kohli's 11 hundreds in chases have resulted in wins. Only Tendulkar, with 14 hundreds
in successful chases has a better record. Five of these hundreds for Kohli had came in chasing
targets of 300 or more.
Kohli is the first batsman to make five successive scores of 50 or more in ODIs on two
separate occasions. In his last five innings, he has scores of 68 not out, 61, 100 not out, 68
and 115 not out. Between February 28 and July 21, 2012, he had scored four centuries and a
66 in five consecutive innings.
Kohli scored 119 against South Africa was his fifth hundred in Tests and his highest score.
Two of five tons came in away matches. Kohli had hit six centuries in international cricket
equaling AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan for the most by any batsman in 2013.
Kohli batted fluently in India's second innings to score his sixth hundred and save India the
Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve. This was his first Test century in the second
innings.
In 2014 Asia Cup, he was named as captain of Indian team as Indian captain Mahendra Singh
Dhoni was reported injured in the Basin Reserve Test.
Kohli scored 136 was his 12th hundred in successful chases in ODIs. The only batsman to
score more centuries in successful chases is Sachin Tendulkar who had 14 such centuries. Out
of 19th ODI hundreds, Kohli had scored 13 those come while chasing again only Tendulkar's
17 tons in chases are more than Kohli's. Kohli was playing his 124th ODI innings had taken
55 innings fewer than Chris Gayle, the previous batsman fastest to 19 ODI centuries.
Kohli scored his fifth ODI hundred in Bangladesh and his third against them. Kohli has
scored 506 runs at 126.50 from six innings against the hosts. His five hundreds are the most
by a batsman in ODIs in Bangladesh.
IPL career
Kohli's record in Twenty20
matches[75]
Matche
100 50
Runs HS
Avg.
s
s
s
T20I[75] 21

587 78* 0

34.5
2

IPL[76]

93

227
99 0
3

14

31.5
6

CLT20[77] 15

424 84* 0

38.5
4

2008 Season

Kohli played for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the 2008 Indian Premier League.[78] He was
bought for $30,000 before the first season in 2008.He scored 165 runs in 13 innings at an
average of 15 and took 2 wickets with his bowls.He scored a total of four 6's and an 18 4's in
that season.His highest score was 38.He had an average 15.00
2009 Season

He scored 246 runs in 16 innings with an average of 22.36 and took 9 catches and effected 2
run outs.He scored a total of eight 6's and twenty-two 4's .His highest score was a 50
2010 Season

In the third season, he scored 307 runs, including two half centuries, in 16 innings at an
average of 27.90. In the fourth season of the IPL, he was the only player that Royal
Challengers Bangalore retained, preferred over the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and
Ross Taylor.His highest score was 58.He scored a total of twenty-six 4's and 12 6's.
2011 Season

He scored 557 runs with an average of 46.61.He took two wickets that season.His highest
score was 71.He scored a total of 55 4's and 16 6's. His highest score was 71 . He had 4 half
centuries that season.He was top run scorer behind Chris Gayle.
2012 Season

The 2012 Indian Premier League followed in April and May and Kohli scored 364 runs fron
16 matches, with two half-centuries.[79] He scored 33 4's and 10 6's.His highest score was 73
not out.His average was 28.00
2013 Season

He was named the captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for the sixth season.[3] He
led his team to fifth position in the league table. He scored 634 runs at an average of 45.28.
He hit sixty-four 4's and 22 6's.
List Of International Cricket Centuries by Virat Kohli
Main article: List of international cricket centuries by Virat Kohli
Playing style

Kohli is a naturally aggressive batsman[80] with strong technical skills.[81] He usually bats in the
middle-order, but, on many occasions, has opened the innings as well. He bats with a slightly
open-chested stance[82][83] and is said to have quick footwork.[84] He is known for his wide range
of shots, ability to pace an innings and batting under pressure.[85][86] He is strong through the
mid-wicket and cover region.[87] He is regarded as one of the best limited-overs batsmen in the
world, especially while chasing.[88][89] His teammates have praised his confidence,
commitment, focus and work ethics.[90][91][92] Dav Whatmore, who was the coach of India's

Under-19 team during the 2008 Under-19 World Cup, described Kohli as a "very physical
type of player" who likes to "impose himself on the game".[80] Former India coach Gary
Kirsten, who worked with the Indian team during Kohli's early years in international cricket,
called him a "rare talent".[93]
Kohli is often compared to Sachin Tendulkar, due to their similar style of batting,[94][95] and
many former cricketers expect Kohli to break Tendulkar's batting records.[96][97] Former West
Indies great Vivian Richards, who is regarded as the most destructive batsman in cricket,
stated that Kohli reminds him of himself.[98] Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe once
wrote in a column for ESPNcricinfo that Kohli "exudes the intensity of Rahul Dravid, the
audacity of Virender Sehwag, and the extraordinary range of Sachin".[99]
Captaincy
One Day Internationals

In the absence of regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Kohli first captained India against
Sri Lanka in India's second match of the tri-nation series in West Indies on 2 July, 2013. He
also captained the team in two more matches in the series before Dhoni returned for the final.
[100]
Kohli was given captaincy for the whole of India's tour of Zimbabwe in 2013 which the
team won 5-0.[101] He also captained India at the Asia Cup during February-March 2013, but
failed to reach the finals.[102] Following this, he captained the Indian team to a 5-0 victory
against Sri Lanka in the latter's tour to India in November 2014.[103]
Test cricket

Kohli captained the Indian Test team in the first Test match against Australia in Adelaide
from December 9-13, 2014, following an injury to the regular captain Dhoni.[104] Following
Dhoni's retirement from Test cricket after the third Test of the series in Brisbane, BCCI
declared that Kohli will lead the Test team for the fourth Test of the series in Sydney.[105]
Batting career summary
Runs by year (ODI)
Year

Match

Run

AVG.

SR

HS

100

50

4s

6s

2014

21

1054

58.55

99.62

139*

94

20

2013

34

1268

52.83

97.53

115*

137

20

2012

17

1026

68.40

93.78

183

92

2011

34

1381

47.62

85.56

117

127

2010

25

995

47.38

85.11

118

90

2009

10

325

54.16

84.41

107

36

2008

159

31.80

66.52

54

21

Year

Match

Run

AVG.

SR

HS

100

50

4s

Source: [2]

Records and achievements

Fastest Century

Fastest Century (in 52 balls) by an Indian batsmen in ODI's against

Australia in Jaipur on 16 October 2013[106]

Milestones

Fastest Indian cricketer to reach 1000 runs in ODIs [107]

Fastest Indian cricketer to reach 3000 runs in ODIs [108]

Fastest Indian cricketer to reach 4000 runs in ODIs [109]

Fastest cricketer to reach 5000 runs in ODIs in 114 inns level with Viv
Richards.[110]

Fastest cricketer to reach 6,000 runs in ODIs, bettering legendary West

Indian Vivian Richards record.[111]

Fastest Indian cricketer to reach 10 centuries in ODIs and 2nd fastest

overall.[112]

Fastest cricketer to reach 15 centuries in ODIs[113]

Fastest cricketer to reach 20 centuries in ODIs[114]

Most runs in a calendar year

Most ODI runs by an Indian cricketer in 2010[115]

Most ODI runs by an Indian cricketer in 2011[116]

Most ODI runs by an Indian cricketer in 2012[117]

Most ODI runs by an Indian cricketer in 2013[118]

Most ODI runs in the calendar year 2011[119]

Most Test runs by an Indian cricketer in 2012 [120]

Most centuries

Most ODI centuries in 2010 by an Indian cricketer [121]

6s

Most ODI centuries in 2011 by an Indian cricketer [122]

Most ODI centuries in 2012[123]

Captaincy records

First Test captain in cricket history to score three centuries in first three
innings. He bettered Greg Chappell's record of scoring a century each in
his first two innings as skipper. [124]

Awards

2014 ICC World Twenty20 Player of the Tournament.[125]

ICC ODI Player of the Year 2012

Ceat International Cricketer of the Year 2013-14

Peoples Choice Awards for Favorite Sportsperson of the Year 2012

Arjuna Award 2013

[126]

[127][128]

Test Man of the Match

Opponent

New
Zealand

Venue

M. Chinnaswamy
Stadium, Bangalore

New Wanderers
South
Stadium,
Africa
Johannesburg
ODI Man of the Match

Date

31 August 3
September
2012

1822
December
2013

Match
Performance
1st Innings: 103
(193 balls: 14x4
1x6)

Result

Won[129]

2nd Innings: 51 (82

balls: 9x4)
1st Innings: 119
(181 balls: 18x4)

2nd Innings: 96 (193

balls: 9x4)

Drawn[1
30]