King Virat Kohli Birthday

Updated On: April 2, 2025

Personal Information:

Full Name: Virat Prem Kohli
Nickname: Cheeku
Date of Birth: November 5, 1988
Place of Birth: Delhi, India
Nationality: Indian
Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium
Role: Top-order batsman, Former Captain of India (All formats)
Spouse: Anushka Sharma (Actress, married in December 2017)
Children: Daughter (Vamika Kohli, born in January 2021)

Early Life and Cricket Journey:

Virat Kohli was born into a Punjabi family in Delhi, India. He showed a keen interest in cricket from a young age, and his talent became evident early on. His father, Prem Kohli, was a lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, is a homemaker.

Kohli attended Vishal Bharti Public School in Delhi and later moved to Saviour Convent School. He joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at the age of 9 and began to make a name for himself in age-group cricket.

Debut in Professional Cricket:
- Domestic Debut: Virat Kohli played his first domestic match for Delhi at the age of 17 in 2006.
- ODI Debut: He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India in August 2008 against Sri Lanka.
- Test Debut: Kohli made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica.

Career Highlights and Achievements:

ODI and T20I Achievements:

ODI Centuries: Kohli is one of the fastest to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 12,000 runs in ODIs. He holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian in ODIs.
ICC Tournaments: Kohli played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He was named the “Player of the Tournament” in the 2014 ICC World T20.
Captaincy:
- Kohli became the captain of India’s limited-overs teams in 2013, and in 2017, he succeeded MS Dhoni as the captain of the Test team.
- Under his leadership, India became the top-ranked Test team in 2016 and won multiple series, including against Australia and South Africa.
Record-Breaking Performances:
- Kohli is known for his aggressive and consistent batting style. He has the fastest century in ODIs among Indian players (52 balls), and is also the fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, 11,000, and 12,000 runs in ODIs.
- He holds the record for the most runs in a calendar year in ODI cricket.
- Virat holds the record for the most runs in T20 internationals as an Indian player.
Batting Records:
- Kohli has scored more than 70 international centuries (across formats), becoming one of the most prolific century-makers in the history of the sport.
- He has been a key player in India’s rise in world cricket, especially in limited-overs formats, with many match-winning performances under his belt.

Test Cricket Achievements:

Test Centuries: Kohli has been among the top run-scorers in Test cricket for India. He is considered one of the best modern-day Test batsmen, with multiple centuries on foreign soil, especially in Australia and England.
Milestones:
- Kohli became the fastest to reach 25 Test centuries, surpassing many legends of the game.
- Under his leadership, India achieved a historic win in Australia in 2020-2021, marking India’s second Test series victory in Australia.

Awards and Honors:

ICC Awards:
- ICC Player of the Year (2017)
- ICC ODI Player of the Year (2012, 2017)
- ICC Spirit of Cricket Award (2017)
Padma Shri: Kohli was awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2017 for his contributions to Indian cricket.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: Kohli was awarded India’s highest sporting honor in 2017.
Arjuna Award: Kohli received the prestigious Arjuna Award for excellence in sports in 2013.
Brand Endorsements: Kohli is one of the most marketable athletes globally. His endorsements include deals with brands such as Puma, Audi, MRF, and many others. He also runs his own fashion brand called Wrogn.

Personal Life:

Marriage to Anushka Sharma: Virat married Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma on December 11, 2017, in a private ceremony in Italy. The couple’s wedding and subsequent media coverage garnered immense attention, making them one of the most popular celebrity couples in India.
Fatherhood: In January 2021, Kohli became a father to a daughter, Vamika, born to him and Anushka Sharma.

Philanthropy and Other Ventures:

Virat Kohli Foundation: Kohli founded the Virat Kohli Foundation, which works towards various social causes, including providing education and healthcare to underprivileged children.
Fitness Advocate: Kohli is widely known for his fitness regimen, which has set a new standard for athletes in India. He promotes a healthy lifestyle and often shares workout routines and fitness advice with his followers.

Retirement and Future:

Though Kohli remains active in international cricket, his future plans in the game could see him move to a more focused role in leadership and mentoring. He stepped down as the captain of the T20 and ODI teams in late 2021, after leading India in various successful campaigns. He remains one of the top players in the world and continues to break records.

Fun Facts About Virat Kohli:

He is known for his fiery temperament on the field but is equally known for his calm demeanor off the field.
Kohli is a huge football fan, and he supports the Spanish club FC Barcelona.
He is passionate about animal welfare and is a strong advocate for pet adoption.
Kohli has an obsession with fitness, and his gym and dietary discipline is admired by fans and fellow athletes.