Monday, October 5, 2026
Sports

Virat Kohli✓

Indian Cricketer, Former India Captain, One of the greatest batters in cricket history, IPL legend, ICC Cricketer of the Decade

Occupation: Cricketer, Entrepreneur, Investor

Role: Top-order Batter
Batting style: Right-handed
Bowling style: Right-arm medium pace
Height: 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Jersey number: 18
Marital status: Married
Spouse: Anushka Sharma (m. 2017)
Children: Vamika Kohli, Akaay Kohli
Father: Prem Kohli (Criminal Lawyer)
Mother: Saroj Kohli (Homemaker)
Brother: Vikas Kohli
Sister: Bhawna Kohli
Nicknames: Chikoo, Run Machine, King Kohli
Zodiac sign: Scorpio

X (Twitter): @imVkohli | 65M+ followers

Virat Kohli is an Indian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest batters in the history of the sport. Known for his consistency, fitness standards, aggressive mindset, and chase-master reputation, Kohli transformed modern batting across all formats. He captained India across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is and led the country to numerous landmark victories. He was captain of India's Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2008 and later became a key member of India's 2011 Cricket World Cup-winning squad. Kohli also played major roles in India's 2013 Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup, and 2025 Champions Trophy triumphs. He holds the record for the most ODI centuries and is among the highest run scorers in international cricket history.

ODIs Played
316+
ODI Runs
15,100+
ODI Centuries
55+
ODI Half-Centuries
79+
Tests Played
123+
Test Runs
9,230+
Test Centuries
30+
T20Is Played
125
T20I Runs
4,188+
T20I Centuries
1
International Centuries
85+
Favorite Cricketer (Childhood Idol)
Sachin Tendulkar
Hobbies
Fitness, Travelling, Singing, Dancing
Pet Lover
Yes
Fitness Enthusiast
Yes
Diet
Primarily fitness-focused nutrition plan
Favorite Jersey Number
18

Early Life

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India. His father Prem Kohli worked as a criminal lawyer, while his mother Saroj Kohli managed the household. Kohli developed a passion for cricket at an early age and joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy. He completed his schooling at Vishal Bharti Public School and later attended Saviour Convent Senior Secondary School while pursuing cricket professionally.

Cricket Career

Kohli first gained national recognition after captaining India to victory in the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka on 18 August 2008. His T20 International debut came in June 2010, while he made his Test debut against the West Indies in June 2011.

Over the following decade, Kohli became the backbone of India's batting lineup. He reached the No. 1 ICC batting ranking in ODI, T20I, and Test cricket, becoming the first Indian player to achieve the top ranking across all three formats.

Captaincy Era

Virat Kohli became one of India's most successful captains. Under his leadership, India dominated Test cricket, maintained the No. 1 Test ranking for extended periods, and achieved historic overseas victories. He remains India's most successful Test captain by number of wins.

IPL Career

Kohli has represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008, making him one of the few players to stay with a single franchise throughout his IPL career. He is the leading run-scorer in IPL history and has won multiple Orange Caps.

Personal Life

Virat Kohli married Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in Tuscany, Italy, in December 2017. The couple welcomed their daughter Vamika in January 2021 and son Akaay in February 2024. They are regarded as one of India's most influential celebrity couples.

Business Ventures

Kohli has built one of the largest athlete brands in India. His major ventures and investments include:

FAQ

Q: What is Virat Kohli's real name?
A: His full name is Virat Prem Kohli.

Q: When was Virat Kohli born?
A: 5 November 1988.

Q: Who is Virat Kohli married to?
A: Actress Anushka Sharma.

Q: How many children does Virat Kohli have?
A: Two children, Vamika and Akaay.

Q: What is Virat Kohli's nickname?
A: Chikoo, Run Machine, and King Kohli.

Q: Which IPL team does Virat Kohli play for?
A: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Q: What is Virat Kohli's jersey number?
A: 18.

Q: What is Virat Kohli famous for?
A: Being one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history and one of the most successful Indian cricketers of all time.

Q: What awards has Virat Kohli received?
A: Arjuna Award, Padma Shri, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, ICC Cricketer of the Decade, and numerous ICC awards.

Q: What is Virat Kohli's net worth?
A: Estimates vary widely across publications, generally placing him among the wealthiest athletes in India. For a website, it is best to avoid publishing a specific figure unless citing a current financial source.

Timeline

2013
Arjuna Award
2017
Padma Shri
2017
ICC Cricketer of the Year
2018
ICC Cricketer of the Year
2018
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
2018
ICC Test Cricketer of the Year
2019
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award
2020
ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade
2020
ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade
2023
ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year
2024
ICC T20 World Cup Winner
2025
ICC Champions Trophy Winner
1988
Born in Delhi, India
1998
Joined professional cricket training academy
2006
Played for India Under-19 team
2008
Captained India to U-19 World Cup title
2008
ODI debut for India
2010
T20I debut for India
2011
Test debut for India
2011
Won ICC Cricket World Cup
2013
Won ICC Champions Trophy
2014
Became regular Test captain
2017
Married Anushka Sharma
2017
Received Padma Shri
2018
Received Khel Ratna Award
2021
Daughter Vamika born
2024
Won ICC T20 World Cup
2024
Son Akaay born
2025
Won ICC Champions Trophy
2025
Retired from Test cricket
2026
Crossed 15,000 ODI runs milestone [Cricket Australia]
Field
Sports
Platforms
Instagram / Facebook
Languages
Hindi, English