Last Updated:
For his incredible batting, innumerable records and several match-winning knocks, Virat Kohli is considered one of the greatest batters to don the Indian jersey.
Virat Kohli was an integral member of Team India’s triumphant squad at the T20 World Cup 2024. (Image:
virat.kohli/Instagram)
One of the finest batters of the modern generation Virat Kohli celebrates his 36th birthday today (November 5). For his incredible batting, innumerable records and several match-winning knocks, Kohli is considered one of the greatest batters to don the Indian jersey.
With 50 ODI centuries to his name, Kohli holds the record for scoring the most number of tons in the 50-over format. Overall, Kohli holds the record for the fourth-highest run scorer (27,129) across all three formats of the game in international cricket.
Kohli was an integral member of India’s triumphant squad at the T20 World Cup 2024. He was also a part of India’s ODI World Cup-winning squad in 2011.
As Virat Kohli celebrates his 36th birthday today, we take a look at some of his interesting facts, records and memorable knocks.
36 facts and records about Virat Kohli
- Virat Kohli made his international debut against Sri Lanka in 2008.
- In T20I cricket, Kohli played his first game against Zimbabwe in 2010.
- He made his Test debut against West Indies in 2011.
- Virat Kohli made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut in 2008.
- He is one of the very few players who have played for the same franchise in the IPL.
- Kohli has been an integral member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru from the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008.
- He became the first player to score 3000 IPL runs at a single venue (M.Chinnaswamy Stadium).
- He also has the most number of IPL tons (8).
- Kohli claims the second spot on the list of highest half centuries (63) in IPL.
- He also holds the record for most IPL catches (114).
- Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India claimed their maiden Test series win on Australian soil.
- Kohli also led India U-19 team to World Cup triumph.
- He is also the only bowler to claim a wicket on the zeroth ball bowled.
- Kohli is the only Indian player to score a century on World Cup debut.
- He achieved this feat against Bangladesh in 2011.
- Kohli became the fourth batter to breach the 27,000 international run-mark.
- He also became the fastest player to achieve this record in 594 innings.
- Kohli surpassed MS Dhoni to become the second most capped (Test+ODI+T20I) player from his country.
- Kohli scripted the record for the fastest to 9000 runs in ODI cricket.
- Moreover, he holds the record for several-of-thousand runs in the 50-over format.
- The talismanic batter won the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year award in 2012.
- Kohli became the first player to score 500 ODI runs in a bilateral series.
- He set the record for most number of ODI tons (10 against Sri Lanka) against a single team.
- The highest ODI score of 183 came against Pakistan in 2012.
- Kohli reached his highest T20I score of 122 (not out) against Afghanistan in 2022.
- Kohli set the record for scoring highest runs (973 in 2016) in a single season of the IPL.
- The Indian batter holds the record for bagging most runs (765 in 2023) in a single edition of the World Cup.
- Kohli achieved his highest Test score of 254 (not out) against South Africa in 2019.
- He is also the first player to score three consecutive Test tons.
- Kohli had scripted the record for the most double-centuries (6) by a captain in Test cricket history.
- Kohli became the 7th player to hit Test double centuries in successive innings.
- After Vinoo Mankad, he became the second India batter to score multiple double-hundreds in the same series.
- Overall, amongst the skippers, Kohli is the fifth to reach this feat.
- The former India captain has a stake at Indian Super League (ISL) football side FC Goa.
- Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is having lifted the World Cup trophy in 2024.
- Virat Kohli became the first Indian player to score 3 consecutive ODI centuries. Kohli set this record against West Indies in 2018.
Virat Kohli’s Memorable Knocks
82 (not out) vs Pakistan, 2022
One of the most memorable knocks in T20I cricket was scored by Virat Kohli against Pakistan at the 2022 T20 World Cup. Playing against arch-rivals Pakistan, Kohli scored 82 (not out) off 53 balls. It comprised six boundaries and four sixes. Banking on Kohli’s stupendous batting, India clinched a four-wicket win on the final ball of the T20 World Cup contest.
133 (not out) vs Australia, 2012
Fans had witnessed Virat Kohli’s superb batting prowess, during a run chase, once again in an ODI match against Sri Lanka. Chasing a challenging target of 321, he produced a match-winning innings of 133 (not out) off 86 balls. India had scored the winning runs with 80 balls to spare in Hobart.
169 vs Australia, 2014
Virat Kohli produced a memorable Test innings against Australia in December 2014. Playing at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Kohli played a fabulous knock of 169 against a lethal Aussie bowling line-up that included some big names like Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. Kohli continued his brilliance in the second innings and scored another half century. The Melbourne Test, between India and Australia, ended in a draw.
