VIRAT KOHLI

Virat Kohli, born on November 5, 1988, is an Indian international cricketer who currently plays Test and ODI cricket for India. A former T20I player and captain of the Indian national team, Kohli is known for his right-handed batting and occasional unorthodox right-arm bowling. He represents Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and Delhi in domestic cricket. Kohli holds the record as the highest run-scorer in IPL history, ranks third in T20I and ODI formats, and is the fourth-highest run-scorer in international cricket. Renowned for his batting prowess, he holds the record for the most centuries in ODI cricket and ranks second in the list of most international centuries. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Kohli was instrumental in India's victories in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2013 Champions Trophy, and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Under his captaincy, India won the ICC Test mace three times consecutively in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Kohli's stellar performances have earned him numerous accolades. In 2013, he was ranked number one in the ICC ODI batsmen rankings, and in 2015, he topped the T20I rankings. In 2018, he achieved the number one Test batsman ranking, making him the only Indian to hold the top spot in all three formats. He became the first player to score 20,000 runs in a decade and was named the ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade in 2020. Kohli has won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award four times (2012, 2017, 2018, and 2023) and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy twice (2017 and 2018). In 2018, he became the first player to win both ICC ODI and Test Player of the Year awards in the same year. Wisden named him the Leading Cricketer in the World for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018. Kohli has been honored with the Arjuna Award (2013), the Padma Shri (2017), and India's highest sporting honor, the Khel Ratna Award (2018). Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2018. After the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket.

Born in Delhi into a Punjabi Hindu family, Kohli's early life was marked by his passion for cricket. His father, Prem Nath Kohli, a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, a housewife, supported his early endeavors. At the age of nine, Kohli joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy and trained under Rajkumar Sharma. Despite initial setbacks, Kohli's talent shone through, and he eventually made it to the under-15 Delhi team. The loss of his father in 2006 profoundly impacted him, leading him to take cricket more seriously. His dedication and hard work paid off as he progressed through the ranks, idolizing Sachin Tendulkar and earning praise from cricket legends.

Kohli's aggressive playing style and leadership have defined his cricket career. Known for his passionate and animated responses on the field, he faced early criticism for his perceived arrogance but earned respect for his self-assurance and work ethic. His technical abilities, including agile footwork and a wide range of strokes, make him a formidable batsman in high-pressure situations. Kohli's endorsement portfolio is vast, with significant deals, including a lucrative bat deal with MRF and an eight-year agreement with Puma. His brand value is estimated at ₹1,000 crore (US$120 million), and he is one of the most marketable cricketers, earning substantial amounts from endorsements and social media.

In 2014, Kohli's brand value was $56.4 million, placing him among India's top celebrity brands. By 2016, his brand value rose to $92 million, second only to Shah Rukh Khan. Forbes ranked him the seventh "Most Valuable Brand among Athletes" in 2017, and he was featured on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2018. Forbes also included him in its 2019 list of the "World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes." His earnings in 2020 exceeded $26 million, placing him 66th on Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes.

Kohli is also known for his fashion sense and has been recognized as one of the best-dressed men by GQ. Madame Tussauds unveiled a wax figure of him in 2019, and he was honored with a stand named after him at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. An animated superhero series, "Super V," based on his teenage years, premiered in 2019.

Kohli's personal life includes his relationship with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, whom he married in 2017. They have two children, a daughter named Vamika, born in 2021, and a son named Akaay, born in 2024. Kohli adopted a vegetarian diet in 2018 and is known for his rigorous fitness regimen, advocating a healthy lifestyle.

Kohli's entrepreneurial ventures include co-owning FC Goa in the Indian Super League, launching the youth fashion brand WROGN, and being a shareholder in the social networking venture "Sport Convo." He invested ₹900 million to establish the Chisel chain of health clubs and became a co-owner of the UAE Royals in the International Premier Tennis League and the Bengaluru Yodhas in the Pro Wrestling League. In 2017, he launched One8, an athletic lifestyle brand with Puma, and established the fine dining restaurant Nueva in New Delhi. He and his spouse also invested in the insurance startup Digit and the plant-based meat product startup Blue Tribe.

Philanthropically, Kohli established the "Virat Kohli Foundation" in 2013 to support underprivileged children. His foundation collaborates with NGOs and has organized several charity events to raise funds for various causes. Kohli has supported initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Mission and hosted events to combat human trafficking. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and Anushka Sharma donated to the PM CARES Fund and the Maharashtra CM Relief Fund, and Kohli has supported animal welfare through the Awaaz initiative.

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