Virat Kohli - The Journey Of A Cricket Legend
Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer, is a leading scorer in Twenty20 Internationals and the Indian Premier League, and is considered one of the sport's finest batters.
Author:Emily SanchezReviewer:James PierceJan 15, 20242.8K Shares47.2K Views
Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer, is a leading scorer in Twenty20 Internationals and the Indian Premier League, and is considered one of the sport's finest batters.
He has scored more century runs in One Day Internationals than anyone else and is now the fourth-highest run scorer in cricket history.
Kohli has won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy for his Indian side. He has also been named the best batsman in Tests and one-day internationals.
Kohli has scored 20,000 runs in a decade, a record for any player. From 2016 to 2018, Wisden recognized him as the best cricketer in the world. In 2018, Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People list included Kohli.
Virat Kohli Early Life
The Hindu family of Virat Kohli brought him up in Delhi after he was born on November 5, 1988. While his mother Saroj Kohli stayed at home to raise him, his father Prem was a criminal lawyer. Kohli's fascination with the sport of cricket started at the tender age of three.
Prem Kohli helped his son achieve his dreams by connecting him with Rajkumar Sharma, and the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WCDA) was born in 1998. Kohli's dad was thinking of signing him up for a cricket academy, but he had trouble getting into the under-14 Delhi squad for reasons unrelated to sport.
As he played for the Sumeet Dogra Academy and worked his way up to the under-15 Delhi squad, Kohli acquired instruction and match experience at the academy. The coach had a hard time taming his excitement because of his extraordinary abilities. In order to pursue his cricket career further, Kohli transferred to Saviour Convent School when he was a ninth grader.
Due to his intense love of the game, Kohli would accompany his father on lengthy journeys so that he would not miss a single cricket match. The local bowlers looked up to him after he worked hard to improve his game and add variety to his stroke repertoire.
After a brain attack on December 18, 2006, Kohli's father passed away. Kohli attributes his daily cricket practice commute to his father, who was a key figure in his support of his training.
After his father passed away, Kohli's mother noticed a marked shift in her son's character. Overnight, he seemed more grown up; he began to take every cricket match extremely seriously and devoted himself fully to the sport.
Up until 2015, Kohli's family called Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar home. Then they uprooted and settled in Gurgaon.
Virat Kohli Personal Life
The nickname "Virushka" was coined for the couple Anushka Sharma of Bollywood and Sachin Tendulkar of cricket, who have been dating since 2013. They became one of India's most talked-about celebrity couples after getting engaged in a small ceremony in Florence, Italy in December 2017. They welcomed Vamika into the world in January 2021.
Kohli said in 2018 that he was becoming vegetarian to help with symptoms of a cervical spine problem brought on by high uric acid levels. Because of this illness, he was unable to bat as well and had trouble moving his fingers. He has now come clean about the fact that he does not follow a vegan lifestyle and still eats dairy.
Kohli promotes a healthy lifestyle with his extreme training and reputation for physical fitness. He wears black wristbands and a certain set of gloves, both of which he has admittedly associated with his superstition. From 2012 forward, many have noticed that he wears a kara, a traditional bracelet used for religious or spiritual reasons, on his right arm.
Additionally, Kohli has instituted the practice of always wearing white shoes when playing cricket. The Hindu god Shiva, the holy word "Om," his parents' names, a tribal sign, a tranquil monastery, a samurai, a scorpion, and his One-Day International and Test match cap numbers are all tattooed on his body.
Virat Kohli Continues The Tendulkar Legacy
The most consistent all-format accumulator of his time was the ambitious Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, who was renowned for his technical diligentness and fitness.
Under his leadership, India achieved a first-ever series victory in Australia and maintained their No. 1 Test position for an extended period of time. He was known to ask more from his bowlers, often trading batsmen for greater bowling depth.
Kohli set records for the number of games needed to reach eight thousand, nine thousand, ten thousand, and eleven thousand one-day international runs while playing for every nation he represented in tests. His 49 one-day international hundreds and 51 test hundreds put Sachin Tendulkar's record in jeopardy.
As the Tendulkar era came to a close, Kohli—who captained India in the Under-19 World Cup—was poised to take over as the team's star batter. His dream was to play cricket at a level where his opponents would be intimidated and the match would be more intense because of him.
Many believe that he was instrumental in altering the Indian cricket team's focus on fitness by making endurance testing an official selection factor.
While temporary administrators at the BCCI were in charge, they were wise enough not to anger India's most famous cricketer, Virat Kohli, who was also the captain of the national team and the face of every advertising campaign for Indian cricket.
Virat Kohli Cricket Career
The 2008 Under-19 World Cup triumph in Kuala Lumpur catapulted the fiery kid with gelled hair, Virat Kohli, to stardom. During his lengthy stint as an opener, he produced several excellent innings after joining the senior Men in Blue in August 2008 in Sri Lanka. Kohli was not selected for the squad, however, because of the established duo of Tendulkar and Sehwag.
When it came to leading Delhi's assaults, Kohli kept showing that he belonged at a better level and continued to impress. Going to Australia for the Emerging Players event in 2009, he established his dominance against bowling assaults. With a flowing century and a clinical victory in the final against South Africa, he added "big-match temperament" to his résumé.
The Indian team's selectors had no option but to give Kohli another opportunity, and he responded with a string of spectacular runs. They were right to put their trust in him; in December 2009, he scored his first one-day international hundred during a thrilling run-chase against Sri Lanka.
After falling down early, Kohli and Gautam Gambhir put up an 83-run partnership in the 2011 World Cup final, rescuing the team. Their efforts were significantly underappreciated. In the end, it was MS Dhoni's legendary performance of 91* that won India the World Cup that magical evening in Mumbai, but this knock was pivotal in getting them there.
Despite suffering from post-World Cup euphoria, Kohli maintained his impressive form in the limited-overs game. In July 2011, three years after making his One-Day International debut, he was granted the much-coveted Test cap in the Caribbean islands.
His low stance on the bumpy courses and limiting trigger movement gave the impression that he lacked the skill to play in Australia throughout the first two Tests.
Kohli showed remarkable concentration and determination in the face of intense heat and pressure during the third Test on a buoyant Perth surface, achieving a breakthrough performance.
When it came to one-day internationals, he broke many records. He became the quickest Indian player to reach multiples of thousands of runs and the fastest player in the world to reach nine thousand runs.
Batting Technique And Idiosyncrasies
Virat Kohli, a talented batsman, has been instrumental in India's success in the Test and One-Day International tri-series. After MS Dhoni's injury, he was selected stand-in captain for the first Test at Adelaide, receiving praise for his performance in Australia.
Kohli's performance was crucial as India defended their championship in the 2015 World Cup in Australia. However, the Indians were dominated in Australia, losing every match in the Test series and the one-day international tri-series.
To avoid falling victim to Sri Lankan spinners' fourth-inning con-job, Kohli sent a youthful squad on tour to the island nation instead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India won 2-1 in the series after losing the first Test.
Kohli maintained his dominant run in Twenty20 cricket and won the 'Player of the tournament' title for the second consecutive Twenty20 World Cup in 2016, despite scoring an 89* in India's semi-final match against the West Indies.
Kohli continues to surprise everyone by becoming the contemporary batsman everyone has been waiting for. His last years were marked by controversy, but India won the four-match Test series 2-1 under Kohli's leadership, making history as the first Asian captain and the first team from India to do so (2018-19).
IPL Career
As the only player to remain with the same team throughout the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) history (beginning in 2008), Virat Kohli has shown unwavering support for both the team and its supporters.
After joining the team in 2008 as a rising player, Kohli has flourished under the tutelage of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Daniel Vettori, achieving tremendous improvement. After being the lone player kept in 2011, he started to have a breakout year.
When it comes to white-ball and red-ball cricket, Kohli eventually became the best. More consistency with the bat came when he was appointed to be the regular captain of the Bangalore franchise in 2012. After being the most prolific run scorer in IPL history, Kohli quickly became a favorite among fans.
He hit 973 runs in 2016, which is more than any other player or batter in the history of the game. But it didn't lead to a championship, therefore Kohli and Bangalore are still without a trophy as of March 2023.
Public And Media Image
After Sachin Tendulkar's success in the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2008, sports agent Bunty Sajdeh of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment contacted the batsman.
Kohli had tremendous potential, and Sajdeh was pleased by his leadership abilities. Kohli joined with Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment at Yuvraj Singh's recommendation.
The value of Kohli's sponsorships has skyrocketed, going from nearly $1 billion in 2013 to an estimated $130 million in 2023. His contract with MRF to provide cricket bats is widely regarded as one of the sport's most lucrative ever.
Kohli made history in 2017 when he became the first Indian athlete to sign a high-profile sponsorship deal with Puma, at an estimated ₹1.1 billion (US$14 million). The deal was valued at ₹100 crore (equivalent to ₹140 crore or US$18 million in 2023).
With an expected yearly income of ₹165 crore (or $17.5 million in 2023 dollars), Kohli is generally considered the most marketable cricketer as of January 2023. With more than 237 million followers, he also holds the record for most followed Asian on Instagram.
As a result of his extraordinary physical prowess and immense popularity, Kohli has become one of the most famous sportsmen in the world. Kohli was ranked fourth among India's most valuable celebrity brands in 2014 according to American Appraisal, with a brand worth of $56.4 million.
Overshadowed by other famous athletes like Stephen Curry, Lionel Messi, and Rory McIlroy, Forbes named Virat Kohli the eighth "Most Valuable Brand among Athletes" in 2017.
Among the "World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes" in 2019, with an estimated salary of $25 million, only Virat Kohli was a cricketer. Vivo announced Kohli's appointment as brand ambassador in April 2021, just in time for the Indian Premier League.
Virat Kohli Networth
The famed cricketer and current captain of the Indian national team, Virat Kohli, has an extremely high net worth.
Throughout his career, Kohli has shattered several records with his superb batting talents, aggressive approach, and consistency in all game forms.
After deducting sponsorship deals, ads, and match fees, his net worth is almost $112 million. The cricket world is talking about Virat Kohli because of his achievements.
FAQs - Virat Kohli
What Is Virat Kohli's Highest Score In International Cricket?
Virat Kohli's highest score in international cricket is 254* in Test matches, achieved against South Africa in Pune in 2019.
How Many Centuries Has Virat Kohli Scored In One Day Internationals (ODIs)?
As of the latest available data, Virat Kohli has scored 43 centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Which Indian Premier League (IPL) Team Did Virat Kohli Captain?
Virat Kohli captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
When Did Virat Kohli Make His Debut In International Cricket?
Virat Kohli made his debut in international cricket on August 18, 2008, in an ODI against Sri Lanka.
How Many Times Has Virat Kohli Been Ranked As The ICC's Number One Batsman In Test Cricket?
Virat Kohli has been ranked as the ICC's number one batsman in Test cricket multiple times during his career.
Final Thoughts
Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer known for his technical talent and athleticism, was a consistent all-format accumulator. He led India to the top spot in the Test rankings and their first series victory in Australia, often sacrificing a batsman for bowling depth.
Kohli made test hundreds in every country he played for and broke records for reaching eight thousand, nine thousand, ten thousand, and eleven thousand one-day international runs.
He aimed to be an opponent-admired player and increase game intensity. Kohli changed Indian cricketers' training and competition by making endurance tests an official selection factor.
Emily Sanchez
Author
James Pierce
Reviewer
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