Virat attended Vishal Bharti Public School in Delhi up to class 9th. After that, he studied at Savior Convent School in Paschim Vihar till Class 12th, where he balanced his academics with his budding cricketing aspirations. However, as his cricketing career began to take off, Kohli focused more on the sport, eventually dropping out of school to pursue cricket full-time.
In February–March 2008, Kohli captained the victorious Indian team at the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in Malaysia. Batting at number 3, he scored 235 runs in 6 matches at an average of 47 and finished as the tournament’s third-highest run-getter and one of the three batsmen to score a hundred in the tournament.
Following the Under-19 World Cup, Kohli was bought by the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore for $30,000 on a youth contract. Kohli has played 234 matches and scored over 7000 runs since he started his engagement with RCB.
Kohli under-performed in the group matches of the world cup. However, In the final against Sri Lanka at Mumbai, he scored 35, sharing an 83-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir for the third wicket after India had lost both openers within the seventh over chasing 275. This partnership is regarded as “one of the turning points in the match”, as India went on to win the match by six wickets and lift the Cricket World Cup after 28 years since winning it for the first time in 1983.
Virat was honored as the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012 for the first time. Later he recived this for year 2017, 2018, and 2023 also. This recognition highlights his consistent excellence and dominance in the One Day International format over several years, making him one of the most outstanding performers in ODI cricket during those respective years.
Kohli played a crucial role in India’s victorious campaign in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He was the leading run-scorer of the tournament, amassing 176 runs in 5 matches at an average of 58.66, including two half-centuries. His consistent performances with the bat played a significant part in India’s success as they went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.
Virat set up the Virat Kohli Foundation to fulfill his dream of making India a sporting superpower. The foundation runs youth focused programs, which connect children to resources and use his partnerships to setup support services to the vulnerable section of our society.
He and Anushka are both also passionate about animals and they have made personal contributions consistently to help the cause of the thousands of stray animals in our city, as well as contributed to wildlife relief efforts. The foundation will provide well planned medical services, shelter and food to the strays that are the forgotten.
Virat received the Arjuna Award in 2013. The Arjuna Award is one of the highest honours bestowed upon athletes in India in recognition of their outstanding achievements in sports. Kohli’s receipt of this prestigious award highlights his exceptional contributions to cricket and his significant impact on the sport at both national and international levels.
In 2017, Kohli was ranked 7th in the list released by Forbes as the most valuable brand among athletes, ahead of sportspeople like Lionel Messi, Rory McIlroy and Stephen Curry, with an estimated brand value of $14.5 million, making him the only Indian and the only cricketer to feature in that list.
Virat tied the knot with Anushka Sharma, a leading Bollywood actor, in a private ceremony held in Tuscany, Italy. The wedding, attended by close friends and family, including many of Kohli’s cricket teammates, featured a traditional Hindu ceremony. The event garnered significant attention in India and worldwide, with extensive media coverage. The couple are popularly known as “Virushka.”
He was named the ICC Test Player of the Year in 2018, acknowledging his exceptional performances and leadership in the longest format of the game. Kohli’s prolific run-scoring and consistent displays of skill cemented his status as one of the premier cricketers in the Test arena.
Kohli has been honored as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World, a prestigious title bestowed by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, considered the “Bible of Cricket.” This recognition highlights Kohli’s outstanding contributions to the sport and his exceptional performances across all formats of the game. As one of the greatest cricketers of his generation, Kohli’s talent and impact on cricket have been acknowledged globally through this esteemed accolade.
He received this for year 2016, 2017, 2018.
He was appointed as the captain of the ICC Test Team of the Year for three consecutive years, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, reflecting his exceptional leadership and batting prowess in the longest format of the game. His remarkable consistency and impact on the field solidified his position as one of the finest cricketers of his era.
He secured a place in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Decade (2011–2020), underscoring his versatility and impact across all formats of the game. His exceptional batting prowess and match-winning performances made him a vital asset in T20 cricket during the decade.
He was indeed a prominent figure in the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Decade. The team, announced by the ICC in December 2020, featured some of the finest ODI cricketers from 2011 to 2020. Kohli, with his exceptional batting performances and leadership, earned his place in this prestigious lineup.
Kohli was named the captain of the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade for the period of 2011-2020. As captain, Kohli led by example, consistently delivering exceptional performances with the bat and guiding his team to numerous victories, both at home and abroad. His inclusion as the captain of the Test Team of the Decade reflects his significant impact on the longest format of the game during that period.
He was awarded the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade for 2011-2020 due to his unmatched consistency, scoring over 11,000 runs with numerous centuries in crucial situations. As captain, he led India to significant victories, setting new standards in fitness and technique while inspiring cricketers worldwide.
He was awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade (2011-2020) for his outstanding performances across all formats of cricket, consistent run-scoring, impactful leadership, and significant influence on the game.
On January 25, he crowned the ICC men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023 for his excellent run in the format and headlined by a phenomenal outing in the World Cup at home.
He had previously won the ICC ODI Player of the Year award in 2012, 2017 and 2018.