Legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli turned 36 on Tuesday. With a stellar career spanning over 15 years, Virat has cemented his position as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. His impressive records and numerous awards are proof of his dedication and hard work.
Let's take a look at his amazing records and achievements across formats:
Virat Kohli, who led India to the ICC U19 World Cup title in Kuala Lumpur till 2008, has consistently proven himself to be the epitome of consistency, hard work, top-level fitness, passion and many other qualities that a top-class player should possess.
Having led India to some of its biggest match wins and played a leading role in some of the most remarkable chases in the sporting world, Virat has become more than just a great stroke player.
Since his international debut in 2008, Virat has represented India in 118 matches, scoring 9,040 runs at an average of 47.83, including 29 centuries and 31 fifties with a best score of 254*. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer and century-maker for India in Tests.
Virat's Test career has seen many ups and downs. His best form in the longest format was from 2016-2019, scoring 4,208 runs in 43 Tests and 69 innings at an average of 66.79, including 16 centuries and 10 fifties.
During this period, he scored seven double centuries, the most by a captain in Tests, a record that still stands.
Test captain Virat is one of the biggest ambassadors of the longer format. India's most successful Test captain ever, he led India to 40 wins in 68 Tests, losing just 17 and drawing 11. His win percentage was above 58.
His impact as a Test captain goes beyond just statistics. The development of a very strict, no-hassle fitness culture, hunger to win, a never-say-die attitude, several historic overseas victories and the development of a large bench strength of fast bowlers contributed to India winning three ICC World Test Championship (WTC) maces from 2017-19 and qualifying for the WTC Final in 2021 and 2023, when it was turned into a full-fledged league competition.
ODIs remain Virat Kohli's best format and he is the greatest player to have played the format. In 295 ODIs, he has scored 13,906 runs at an average of 58.18, including 50 centuries and 72 half-centuries. His best score in this format is 183. He is the third-highest run-scorer in ODIs and the second-highest run-scorer among Indians.
Virat is the only player to have scored 50 centuries in ODIs, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record during the World Cup 2023 semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium last year, right in front of Sachin, a man he grew up idolising like millions of other kids.
'King Kohli' has been at his best in the 50-over format, holding several records in it. He is the fastest player to reach 8,000 runs (175 innings), 9,000 runs (194 innings), 10,000 runs (205 innings), 11,000 runs (222 innings), 12,000 runs (242 runs) and 13,000 runs (267 innings).
Virat is a "chessmaster" in the 50-over format, scoring the most runs and centuries in successful run-chases. In 102 such matches, he has scored 5,786 runs at an impressive average of 90.40, with 23 centuries and 25 fifties to his name in 96 innings.
He holds the record for most runs in an ODI bilateral series against South Africa in the 2017-18 season, scoring 558 runs in six matches at an average of 186.00, including three centuries and a half-century. His best score was 160*. Virat has been part of the team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup (2011) and ICC Champions Trophy (2013) and finished as runners-up of the ICC Cricket World Cup (2023) after a 10-match winning streak and lost to Australia in the final.
Although he played many memorable innings in these tournaments, WC 2023 is his pinnacle as an ODI batsman. He finished the tournament as the 'Player of the Tournament' after scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62, including three centuries and six fifties. His best score being 117 runs. In the history of the 50-over World Cup, Virat is the second-highest run-scorer with 1,795 runs in 37 matches at an average of 69.83, including five centuries and 12 fifties. In the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat has scored 529 runs in 13 matches at an average of 88.16 and has five fifties to his name in 12 innings. He was also a great ODI captain, winning 65 out of 95 ODIs, losing 27 and tying one. He led the team to a runner-up finish in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019.
Talking about T20Is, Virat has scored 4,188 runs in 125 T20Is and 117 innings at an average of 48.69, including one century and 38 fifties. His best score is 122*. He is the second-highest run-scorer in this format.
He has won the 'Player of the Series' award 7 times in this format