Virat Kohli: Celebrating the Legendary Career of a Cricket Icon on His 36th Birthday

With a career that has spanned more than 15 years, Kohli has established himself as a true legend of the game, both in India and around the world. His remarkable achievements and a slew of records make him a symbol of excellence, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of success.

Early Beginnings to Modern-Day Greatness

From his days as a young prodigy with a spiked hairdo, leading India to a historic ICC U-19 World Cup win in 2008, Kohli has consistently evolved into a cricketer of extraordinary skill and passion. His career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to fitness, resilience in pressure situations, and a fierce determination to win.

Kohli has not only contributed to some of India’s greatest victories but his aggressive batting and penchant for chasing down challenging targets have set new standards for what it means to be a modern-day cricketer. His evolution has been nothing short of remarkable—from being known for his classy strokes to becoming a living statistical marvel, dissected and admired by cricket analysts worldwide.

Dominance Across Formats

Test Cricket: The Resilient Leader

Virat Kohli's journey in Test cricket has been one of highs and lows, but it is his peak from 2016 to 2019 that is etched in the annals of the game’s history. During this period, he scored a staggering 4,208 runs in 43 matches at an average of 66.79, including 16 centuries. Kohli's seven double centuries, the most by any captain in Test cricket, still stand as an unassailable record.

As India’s most successful Test captain, Kohli led the team to 40 wins in 68 matches, with only 17 losses and 11 draws, a win percentage of over 58%. His leadership helped foster a no-nonsense fitness culture, an aggressive approach to winning, and a fearlessness that brought India several historic victories, especially overseas. Under his captaincy, India won three consecutive ICC World Test Championship Maces (2017-2019) and qualified for the finals in both 2021 and 2023.

One-Day Internationals: The ODI Maestro

Arguably the greatest ODI player of all time, Kohli's record in the 50-over format is unparalleled. In 295 ODIs, he has accumulated 13,906 runs at an average of 58.18, including 50 centuries and 72 fifties. His ability to chase down daunting targets has been legendary—Kohli holds the record for the most runs and centuries in successful run chases in ODIs. In 102 such matches, he has scored 5,786 runs at an astonishing average of 90.40, with 23 centuries.

Kohli’s iconic moment came during the 2023 World Cup, where he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 centuries in the format, a milestone achieved during the semifinal against New Zealand in front of his childhood idol. His record-breaking achievements don’t stop there—he is the fastest player to reach every major milestone in ODI runs, from 8,000 to 13,000 runs.

His performance in the 2023 Cricket World Cup was nothing short of spectacular. With 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, including three centuries, he was named the Player of the Tournament. He also became the second-highest run-scorer in World Cup history, with 1,795 runs at an average of 69.83.

T20Is: Master of the Short Format

In T20 internationals, Kohli's brilliance has made him one of the format's most formidable players. With 4,188 runs in 125 matches, he boasts an impressive average of 48.69, including a century and 38 fifties. His record as the highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history—1,292 runs in 35 matches at an average of 58.72—further cements his stature as one of the all-time greats.

Kohli's performances in the ICC T20 World Cups have been nothing short of legendary. He has twice been named Player of the Tournament—first in 2014 (319 runs in six matches) and again in 2016 (273 runs in five matches). In successful run-chases in T20Is, his numbers are unmatched: 1,651 runs in 42 matches at an average of 78.61, including 16 fifties.

His leadership in the T20 format has also been outstanding, with a win-loss record of 30-16 in 50 T20Is as captain, including a T20 World Cup win in 2024.

Achievements and Records

Virat Kohli's international career numbers are simply breathtaking. In all formats combined, he has scored 27,134 runs in 538 matches at an average of 52.78, with 80 centuries and 141 fifties. He is the third-highest run-scorer in the history of cricket and the second-highest among Indians. His tally of 80 centuries is the most by any active player.

Kohli also holds the record for most runs in a calendar year by an Indian, amassing 2,818 runs in 2017. He has been named Player of the Series 21 times, the most by any cricketer, and has won 67 Player of the Match awards, the second-highest in history.

In ICC events, Kohli has etched his name in history by winning three Player of the Tournament awards, a feat unmatched by any other player. He has also been recognised with several prestigious ICC awards, including ICC Player of the Decade (2011-2020), ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year (twice), and ICC ODI Player of the Year (four times).

IPL: The Franchise Cricket Giant

In addition to his international feats, Kohli has been a superstar in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has been the leading run-scorer in tournament history with 8,004 runs from 252 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite his individual brilliance, Kohli has yet to lead his team to an IPL title, though he has won the Orange Cap for most runs in a season twice—once in 2016, where he scored 973 runs with four centuries.

Conclusion

Virat Kohli's legacy in world cricket is cemented not just by his immense statistical achievements but by the passion, resilience, and leadership he has brought to the game. His influence goes beyond numbers—he has been a beacon for the evolution of Indian cricket in the modern era. As he continues to play and break records, Kohli remains not just a cricketing legend but a global icon, inspiring generations to come.

BIZZ BUZZ WISHES VIRAT A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY