Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India, is one of the world's premier cricketers and a former captain of the India national cricket team.

Virat Kohli, with his aggressive batting and exceptional consistency, broke numerous records, including being the fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, and 10,000 runs in ODIs. He led India to some historic Test victories overseas.

Off the field, the right-hand batter is married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, with whom he has a daughter, Vamika and a son Akaay.

Career

Virat Kohli made his List A debut for Delhi against Services on February 18, 2006, during the 2005-06 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was just 17 years old at that time, and although he didn’t score heavily in this match, it marked the beginning of what was going to be an exceptional journey in Indian cricket.

Virat Kohli led the India Under-19 team to win the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. As the captain, he guided the team to win all their matches in the tournament. Kohli also played well, scoring an important 43 runs in the final against South Africa. This win made him well-known and was a big boost for his cricket career.

International Debut

ODI Debut

Virat Kohli made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka on August 18, 2008, in Dambulla. Batting at number two, he scored 12 runs before being dismissed. Although his debut was modest, it was clear that Kohli possessed the technical skill and temperament required for the international stage. Over time, he developed into one of the most prolific run-scorers in ODI history.

T20I Debut

Virat Kohli played his first T20 International match against Zimbabwe on June 12, 2010, in Harare. He opened the batting and scored 26 not out, helping India easily reach their target. This performance showed his skill in T20 cricket, proving he could play well and adapt to different situations.

Test Debut

Virat Kohli played his first Test match on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Batting at number five, he scored 4 and 15 runs in his two innings, which was a tough start. However, this didn’t stop Kohli from becoming one of the greatest in this format.

Captaincy Career

Virat Kohli's captaincy journey began in 2014 when he took the reins of the Indian Test team, following the retirement of MS Dhoni. His aggressive leadership style and focus on fitness brought new energy to the team. He soon captained India in ODIs in 2017, following Dhoni's stepping down from limited-overs captaincy as well.

In 2017, Kohli achieved the prestigious feat of becoming India's captain across all formats – Test, ODI, and T20I. This marked a significant moment in Indian cricket, with Kohli leading a young and talented squad across all three formats.

Under Kohli's leadership, India reached new levels of success in all formats of cricket. They made history by winning a Test series in Australia for the first time in over a decade. At home, they won many series in different formats. A major achievement was taking India to the top of the ICC Test rankings for the first time ever.

However, Kohli's captaincy wasn't without its challenges. Questions arose about his team selection strategies and his batting form, which dipped after 2019. Additionally, India fell short of winning major ICC tournaments like the World Cup in 2019 and the 2021 T20 World Cup under his leadership.

In a surprising move in 2021, Kohli decided to step down as captain of the Indian T20I team after the T20 World Cup. While this was initially seen as a way to manage his workload, it sparked a series of events.

The BCCI then removed him from the ODI captaincy in December 2021. Finally, in early 2022, Kohli announced his resignation from the Test captaincy as well. This marked the end of an era for Indian cricket, with Kohli relinquishing leadership across all formats.

IPL Career

Virat Kohli started his IPL career when he was just 19 years old. He made his debut in the first season of the IPL in 2008, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Although his early performances were good, he really showed his batting skills in the later seasons. His aggressive play and talent for chasing big scores made him a fan favourite.

An interesting twist came in 2011 when Kohli was retained by RCB using the Right to Match card, making him the first player to be retained by a single franchise. This marked the beginning of a long and loyal association between Kohli and RCB. In 2013, he was handed the captaincy of the team, a role he held for a significant period.

Under Kohli's captaincy, RCB reached the IPL final on three occasions (2014, 2016, and 2019) but fell short of clinching the coveted trophy. However, Kohli did achieve individual success, becoming the highest run-scorer for RCB and setting numerous batting records in the league.

Despite his leadership skills and batting talent, people began to question Kohli's captaincy in later years. RCB's failure to win the IPL title and their inconsistency led to talks about changing the captain. In 2021, Kohli decided to step down as RCB captain, marking a big change in his IPL career. He still plays an important role in the RCB batting line-up.

Virat Kohli's career, a captivating story that started with a young prodigy and has blossomed into a legend, is far from over. He has etched his name in cricketing history with a mountain of runs, inspiring captaincy stints, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Even as he navigates a new chapter, his hunger for success and his impact on the sport ensure his legacy will continue to inspire for years to come.

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