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Virat Kohli

Cricketer · Batsman · Former captain

b. 1988 · Born in New Delhi, India · 4 min read

  • Verified: 13 November 2026
  • Sources: 7
  • Independently reviewed
Portrait photograph of Virat Kohli in an India team shirt
Photo: Anand Anil / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0

Indian batsman Virat Kohli, former all-format captain, holds the record for most ODI centuries (55 as of November 2026) and has won every major white-ball title.

Early Life

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in New Delhi, the son of Prem Nath Kohli, a criminal lawyer, and Saroj Kohli. He grew up in Uttam Nagar and showed an early love of cricket, asking his father to bowl to him from the age of three. In 1998 his father enrolled him at the West Delhi Cricket Academy, where his coach was Rajkumar Sharma. He played age-group cricket for Delhi, captaining the under-15 side, and scored heavily in youth tournaments, including 757 runs in the 2005-06 Vijay Merchant Trophy. On 18 December 2006 his father died of a cerebral attack while Kohli was playing a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Karnataka; he returned to the ground the next day and scored 90 before attending the funeral. He led India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia in 2008, scoring 235 runs in the tournament, and made his senior international debut later that year.

Career

Kohli made his first-class debut for Delhi on 23 November 2006, and days later, after his father's sudden death, he returned to the match against Karnataka and scored 90. He captained India to victory in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia and made his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla on 18 August 2008. He scored his maiden one-day century against Sri Lanka in December 2009 and his Test debut came against West Indies in June 2011, months after he was part of India's World Cup-winning team. He became India's Test captain in 2014 and its all-format captain in 2017, leading India to the top of the Test rankings and to 40 Test wins, the most by an Indian captain. He scored his 50th one-day century in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand at Mumbai, passing Tendulkar's record. He retired from Twenty20 internationals on 29 June 2024, immediately after India won the T20 World Cup final, in which he was Player of the Match, and announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025. He continues to play one-day internationals and the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with whom he won a first title in June 2025.

Achievements

Kohli's record in one-day cricket is unmatched in the modern game. As of November 2026 he has scored 55 centuries in one-day internationals, the most by any batter, passing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49 with his 50th in the 2023 World Cup semi-final. His 15,183 runs in 318 one-day internationals at an average of 58.85 include a record 30 centuries in run chases. Across all formats he has 86 international centuries, second only to Tendulkar's 100, and 28,601 international runs. In Tests, from which he retired in May 2025, he scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches with 30 centuries and was India's most successful Test captain with 40 wins. He scored 765 runs in the 2023 World Cup, the most by any batter in a single edition, and was named Player of the Tournament. He has won the World Cup, two Champions Trophies and the T20 World Cup, and in 2025 he won a first Indian Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He received the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017 and the Khel Ratna in 2018, and was named the ICC Cricketer of the Decade for 2011 to 2020.

  • Holds the record for the most centuries in one-day internationals, with 55 as of November 2026
  • Scored 86 international centuries in total as of November 2026, second only to Sachin Tendulkar's 100
  • Scored 765 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the most by any batter in a single World Cup edition, and was Player of the Tournament
  • Scored 15,183 runs in 318 one-day internationals as of November 2026, at an average of 58.85
  • India's most successful Test captain, with 40 wins, and the only Indian to top the batting rankings in all three formats
  • Member of India's winning teams at the 2011 World Cup, the 2013 and 2025 Champions Trophies, and the 2024 T20 World Cup
  • Won the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025, the club's first title, and is the competition's leading run-scorer
  • Received the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017 and the Khel Ratna in 2018; named ICC Cricketer of the Decade for 2011 to 2020

Legacy

Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era and as the player who set new standards for fitness, chasing and consistency in international cricket. His record in run chases, with 8,741 runs and 30 centuries in one-day chases as of November 2026, earned him the nickname Chase Master, and his intensity on the field became the template for the Indian team he captained. He is the only Indian to have topped the ICC batting rankings in all three formats and the most decorated player in ICC Awards history, with ten awards. His popularity has made him one of the most followed athletes in the world, and his longevity, from an Under-19 World Cup-winning captain in 2008 to a one-day international star still playing in 2026, spans almost two decades at the top of the game.

Contributions

Kohli changed the standard for what an international batsman must be. His chasing record in one-day cricket, built on calm calculation under pressure rather than slogging, redefined how teams approach targets, and his fitness regime and fielding intensity raised the bar for the whole Indian team. As Test captain he built a pace attack that could win overseas, leading India to a first Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, and he made winning away from home the measure of an Indian side. His consistency across formats, with centuries in every condition and against every opponent, showed that a modern batsman could dominate one-day cricket while also succeeding in Tests, a balance few of his contemporaries managed.

Notable Works

  • India national cricket team (2008-present)
  • 2011 Cricket World Cup winner
  • 2013 and 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winner
  • 2024 ICC T20 World Cup winner, Player of the Match in the final
  • Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Indian Premier League champions 2025

Milestones

  • 1988 — Born on 5 November in New Delhi, India Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2006 — Made his first-class debut for Delhi Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2008 — Captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title and made his one-day international debut Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2009 — Scored his maiden one-day international century against Sri Lanka Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2011 — Won the Cricket World Cup with India and made his Test debut Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2013 — Won the ICC Champions Trophy with India and was ranked number one in one-day batting Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli); Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • 2018 — Ranked number one in Test batting, becoming the only Indian to top the rankings in all three formats Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2023 — Scored his 50th one-day international century and 765 runs in the World Cup, a single-edition record Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2024 — Won the T20 World Cup, was Player of the Match in the final, and retired from Twenty20 internationals Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  • 2025 — Retired from Test cricket, won a second Champions Trophy, and won a first Indian Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli); The Hindu
  • 2026 — Passed 15,000 one-day international runs and reached 55 one-day centuries Source: Rediff

Timeline

  1. 5 November 1988

    Born in New Delhi, India

    Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  2. 23 November 2006

    Made his first-class debut for Delhi against Tamil Nadu

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  3. 2008-03

    Captained India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia

    Approximate date Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  4. 18 August 2008

    Made his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka at Dambulla

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  5. 24 December 2009

    Scored his maiden one-day international century, against Sri Lanka at Kolkata

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  6. 2 April 2011

    Won the Cricket World Cup with India, beating Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  7. 20 June 2011

    Made his Test debut against West Indies at Kingston, Jamaica

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  8. 23 June 2013

    Won the ICC Champions Trophy with India, beating England in the final at Birmingham

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  9. 2018

    Received the Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour

    Year only — exact date unknown Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli); Encyclopaedia Britannica
  10. 15 November 2023

    Scored his 50th one-day international century against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final, passing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 49

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli); Encyclopaedia Britannica
  11. 29 June 2024

    Won the T20 World Cup with India, was Player of the Match in the final, and retired from Twenty20 internationals

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)
  12. 12 May 2025

    Announced his retirement from Test cricket, aged 36

    Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli); Encyclopaedia Britannica
  13. 3 June 2025

    Won a first Indian Premier League title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, beating Punjab Kings in the final

    Source: The Hindu
  14. 2026-09

    Passed 15,000 one-day international runs, the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark

    Approximate date Source: Rediff; The North News

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Virat Kohli?

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in New Delhi, India, so Kohli is 38 years old as of November 2026. Kohli's age changes every year on 5 November. He made his international debut in 2008 and remains active in one-day international cricket.

Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli) ; Encyclopaedia Britannica

Who is Virat Kohli?

Virat Kohli is an Indian batsman and former all-format captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era. He holds the record for the most centuries in one-day internationals, with 55 as of November 2026. He has won the World Cup, two Champions Trophies and the T20 World Cup.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; Wikipedia (Virat Kohli)

How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored?

As of November 2026, Kohli has scored 86 international centuries: 55 in one-day internationals, 30 in Tests and one in Twenty20 internationals. His 55 ODI centuries are the most by any batter, passing Sachin Tendulkar's 49 in November 2023. Only Tendulkar, with 100, has more international centuries.

Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli) ; Rediff

What did Kohli achieve in the 2023 World Cup?

In the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 innings, the most by any batter in a single World Cup edition, and was named Player of the Tournament. During the semi-final against New Zealand he scored his 50th ODI century, passing Tendulkar's record of 49. India lost the final to Australia.

Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli) ; SportsTiger

When did Kohli retire from Tests and T20Is?

Kohli retired from Twenty20 internationals on 29 June 2024, immediately after India won the T20 World Cup final, in which he was Player of the Match. He announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025, aged 36. He continues to play one-day internationals and the Indian Premier League.

Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli) ; Encyclopaedia Britannica

What honours has Virat Kohli received?

Kohli received the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in 2017 and the Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, in 2018. He was named the ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and the ICC Cricketer of the Decade for 2011 to 2020. Time included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in 2018.

Source: Wikipedia (Virat Kohli) ; Encyclopaedia Britannica

Sources & References

  1. Virat Kohli — Wikipedia — Wikipedia (accessed 13 November 2026)
  2. Virat Kohli — Britannica — Encyclopaedia Britannica (accessed 13 November 2026)
  3. 38 Numbers You Must Know About Virat Kohli — Rediff — Rediff (accessed 13 November 2026)
  4. 38 and still unstoppable: The stats charting Virat Kohli's journey — Firstpost — Firstpost (accessed 13 November 2026)
  5. RCB vs PBKS IPL 2025 final: Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift maiden title — The Hindu — The Hindu (accessed 13 November 2026)
  6. Happy Birthday Virat Kohli: His greatest achievements across three formats — SportsTiger — SportsTiger (accessed 13 November 2026)
  7. File:Virat Kohli portrait.jpg — Wikimedia Commons (portrait file page) — Wikimedia Commons (accessed 13 November 2026)

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Written by Abdul Hannan. Independently reviewed before publication. First published 13 November 2026; last verified 13 November 2026.

Birth date: 5 November 1988 · Date precision: exact.