Virat Kohli is one of the most celebrated and successful cricketers in the history of the sport.
Born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi, India, into a Punjabi Hindu family, he rose from a middle-class background to become a global icon of Indian cricket.
Known for his aggressive batting style, exceptional fitness, and relentless pursuit of excellence, Kohli has represented India across all formats – Tests, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals.
He has also been a long-time player and former captain for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.
Siblings
Virat has two older siblings who have played important supportive roles in both his personal life and professional journey.
His elder brother is Vikas Kohli, a businessman based in Gurugram who shares his younger brother’s passion for fitness.
Vikas is married to Chetna Kohli and the couple have a son named Aarav.
After the death of their father Prem Kohli in 2006, Vikas took on greater family responsibilities and has remained a steady source of encouragement.
He is actively involved in managing aspects of Virat’s business interests, including ventures linked to the One8 brand and related restaurants.
Vikas maintains a relatively low public profile compared with his brother yet stays connected through social media, often sharing fitness routines and family moments.
Virat’s elder sister is Bhawna Kohli Dhingra.
She completed her schooling at Hansraj Model School in Delhi and graduated from Daulat Ram College.
In 2002 she married businessman Sanjay Dhingra, and the couple have two children, a son named Ayush and a daughter named Mehak.
Bhawna has been a consistent emotional support and early cheerleader for her brother’s cricket career.
She has also been associated with some of Virat’s fashion and lifestyle initiatives, including aspects of the One8 Select and related brands.
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Career
Kohli’s cricket journey began in Delhi’s local leagues and progressed rapidly through age-group and domestic cricket.
He captained India’s Under-19 team to victory in the 2008 ICC Under-19 World Cup, a breakthrough that accelerated his rise.
He made his One Day International debut in 2008, followed by his Test debut in 2011 and regular appearances in T20 Internationals.
Over the years he established himself as a mainstay of the Indian batting line-up across formats, renowned for his ability to chase targets, accumulate large scores, and perform under pressure.
Kohli later assumed the captaincy of the Indian team in all formats, leading with an intense and competitive style that emphasised fitness, discipline, and results.
Under his leadership India achieved significant success in Tests, including becoming a dominant force in home conditions and securing notable series wins abroad.
He has also been a central figure for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League for many seasons.
Although he stepped down from captaincy in later years and reduced his participation in certain formats, Kohli continues to feature as one of India’s premier batters, known for consistency, technical excellence, and a strong work ethic that has defined his long career.
Accolades
Kohli is the first player to win all four major ICC white-ball titles: the Under-19 World Cup in 2008, the ODI World Cup in 2011, the Champions Trophy in 2013, and the T20 World Cup in 2024.
He has also contributed to multiple Asia Cup triumphs and several Border-Gavaskar Trophy series victories against Australia, along with other bilateral series successes.
As captain he guided India to the ICC Test Championship mace on multiple occasions.
On the individual front, Kohli holds the record for the most ICC awards won by any player.
These include the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2017 and 2018, multiple ODI Player of the Year awards, Test Player of the Year, and recognition as both ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Decade and ODI Cricketer of the Decade for 2011–2020.
He has received India’s highest sporting honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, as well as the Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award.
Additional distinctions include repeated selections in ICC Teams of the Year, Wisden recognition, and various Player of the Series and Player of the Match awards across formats.
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