Beyond centuries: Celebrating Virat Kohli’s birthday, grit and greatness

Virat Kohli’s career has been built on more than runs and centuries. It is a story of ambition, discipline, fierce competitiveness and the ability to respond when circumstances turn difficult. From a young boy training at a cricket academy in Delhi to becoming one of the most accomplished batsman in international cricket, Kohli has experienced some of the game’s biggest triumphs and most challenging moments.

Born on November 5, 1988, in New Delhi, Kohli turns 38 on Thursday. With 86 international centuries, more than 28,000 international runs and several major titles to his name, he has established himself among the leading batsman of his generation. His career has also been marked by defining innings, historic victories and a determination to remain competitive across formats.

A dream that began in Delhi

Kohli’s interest in cricket developed at an early age. His father, Prem Kohli, recognised his son’s passion and enrolled him at the West Delhi Cricket Academy in 1998. Under coach Rajkumar Sharma, he began developing the skills that would eventually take him to the highest level of the sport.

He attended Vishal Bharti Public School and Saviour Convent School, but cricket gradually became his priority. His family, particularly his father, supported his ambition and encouraged him to pursue the game seriously.

December 2006 brought one of the most difficult moments of his life. During a Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka, Kohli, then just 18, learnt that his father had died following a stroke. Despite the personal loss, he returned to the crease the next morning and scored 90 runs for Delhi before leaving for his father’s funeral.

The innings remains one of the defining moments of his early career, reflecting the determination with which he approached the game even during a period of immense personal grief.

His progress continued on the cricket field. In 2008, Kohli captained India to the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia. Later that year, on August 18, he made his senior ODI debut against Sri Lanka, beginning an international career that would span multiple generations of Indian cricket.

The rise of India’s chase specialist

Kohli gradually established himself in India’s limited-overs setup through consistent performances and an ability to handle pressure. His skill in run chases soon became one of his most recognised strengths.

An unbeaten 133 off 86 balls against Sri Lanka in Hobart in 2012 remains among the standout innings of his early career. India were chasing 321 and reached the target in just 36.4 overs, with Kohli producing an innings that strengthened his reputation as a batter capable of taking control of difficult situations.

His performances were not restricted to international cricket. In 2016, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli scored 973 runs in the Indian Premier League, the highest individual tally in a single edition of the tournament. His four centuries that season remain part of IPL history.

Across formats, his consistency, fitness and ability to convert promising starts into substantial scores helped him reach the top of international batting rankings. He became known for his intensity at the crease and his determination to set high standards for himself.

His influence also extended to India’s approach to Test cricket. As captain, Kohli placed considerable emphasis on fitness and an aggressive style of play. India’s 2-1 series victory in Australia during the 2018-19 tour was a landmark achievement, making India the first team from the country to win a Test series there.

The difficult years and a memorable comeback

Even a career filled with remarkable achievements had its difficult phases. After scoring a century against Bangladesh in November 2019, Kohli endured a prolonged wait for another international hundred. For almost three years, his form remained under scrutiny, with questions raised about his batting and future in the leadership group.

The period also brought significant changes to his captaincy career. He stepped down as India’s T20I captain in 2021, was subsequently removed as ODI captain and relinquished the Test captaincy in January 2022.

Kohli’s response came on the field. During the Asia Cup in September 2022, he scored an unbeaten 122 against Afghanistan, registering his first international century in nearly three years and his maiden hundred in T20 internationals.

Another defining performance followed at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. Against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kohli scored an unbeaten 82 off 53 balls to guide India to victory in a dramatic finish. His innings became one of the tournament’s most memorable performances and reinforced his reputation as a batter who could deliver under pressure.

The 2023 ODI World Cup marked another high point. Kohli scored 765 runs, the highest aggregate by a batsman in a single edition of the tournament, and received the Player of the Tournament award. During the competition, he also registered his 50th ODI century, moving past Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49.

World Cup glory and a new phase

After years of success in the 50-over format, Kohli added another major title to his career in 2024 when India won the T20 World Cup in Barbados.

He played a decisive role in the final against South Africa, scoring 76 runs and receiving the Player of the Match award. Shortly after India’s victory, he announced his retirement from T20 international cricket, bringing an end to his career in the shortest international format.

In May 2025, he also retired from Test cricket after a 14-year career in the format. He finished with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.

Kohli continued in India’s ODI setup and was part of the team that won the Champions Trophy in 2025. His unbeaten century against Pakistan in the group stage was among the notable performances of the tournament.

Another significant milestone arrived in September 2026 during the first ODI against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram. Kohli scored an unbeaten 139 to guide India to victory and took his ODI run tally beyond 15,000. He became the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to cross the mark and the fastest to reach it.

A captaincy legacy beyond numbers

Kohli’s influence on Indian cricket also came through his leadership. He captained India in 213 international matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, recording 135 victories.

With 40 wins in 68 Tests, he remains India’s most successful Test captain in terms of victories. During his tenure, India strengthened its home record, registered important overseas victories and reached the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021.

His batting numbers as captain were equally impressive. Kohli scored 5,864 runs in Test cricket as skipper, including seven double centuries.

His career statistics across formats underline his consistency at the highest level:

ODIs: 15,109 runs, 55 centuries and 79 half-centuries.

Tests: 9,230 runs, 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.

T20Is: 4,188 runs, one century and 38 half-centuries.

International cricket: 86 centuries across all three formats, second only to Sachin Tendulkar.

IPL: 9,336 runs and nine centuries, making him the tournament’s highest run-scorer.

His performances also earned him the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade award for the 2011-2020 period.

Life beyond the boundary

Away from cricket, Kohli’s personal life has also attracted considerable public attention. He married Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma on December 11, 2017, in Italy. The couple have two children, daughter Vamika and son Akaay.

His approach to fitness, preparation and competition has influenced younger cricketers, while his presence has made him one of the most recognisable faces of Indian sport.

At 38, Kohli has entered a different phase of his international career. Following his retirements from T20Is and Tests, ODI cricket remains his only international format.

From losing his father at a young age to captaining India, from enduring a prolonged century drought to winning major international titles, Kohli’s career has moved through contrasting phases. His 86 international centuries and more than 28,000 runs tell the story of remarkable consistency, but his ability to respond to setbacks has been equally significant.

As he celebrates another birthday, Kohli’s journey stands as a record of sustained ambition and an enduring commitment to the game that shaped his life.