He gave India unforgettable chases, broke records that once seemed impossible and delivered when the biggest trophies were on the line. On his 38th birthday, revisit the journey of Virat Kohli – a boy from Delhi who became a global cricket phenomenon.
There are cricketers who score runs. There are cricketers who win matches. And then there are those who change the way an entire generation looks at the game.
Virat Kohli belongs to the third category.
From lifting the ICC Under-19 World Cup in 2008 to becoming India's trusted match-winner across formats, from chasing impossible targets to delivering on the biggest stages, Kohli's journey has been about much more than numbers.
It has been about hunger, discipline, aggression, heartbreak, comebacks and an extraordinary desire to win.
On November 5, as Virat Kohli celebrates his 38th birthday, Indian cricket celebrates a man who has given its supporters countless reasons to cheer, believe and dream.
His journey is not simply the story of a boy who became a superstar. It is the story of a young cricketer who turned expectations into records and pressure into opportunity.
1. The beginning: A dream born in Delhi
Born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, Virat grew up in a middle-class family with a deep interest in cricket.
His father, Prem Kohli, recognised his son's passion early and encouraged him to pursue the sport. His mother, Saroj Kohli, and siblings, brother Vikas and sister Bhawna, remained important parts of his life.
Virat joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at a young age, where coach Rajkumar Sharma helped shape his cricketing foundations.
But one of the most defining moments of his early life came in December 2006.
While playing a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Karnataka, Virat received the devastating news that his father had passed away following a cardiac arrest.
He was just 18.
Despite the personal tragedy, Kohli returned to the field the following morning and scored 90 runs, helping Delhi avoid the follow-on.
It was more than a cricketing innings. It was a moment that offered a glimpse into the determination and emotional strength that would become central to his career.
2. The first big breakthrough: U-19 World Cup glory in 2008
The first major chapter of Kohli's international journey began in Malaysia in 2008.
He captained India at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, leading a talented group of youngsters to the title.
India defeated South Africa in a rain-affected final, winning by 12 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Kohli's leadership, competitive spirit and performances caught the attention of the cricketing world.
He was no longer just another promising youngster from Delhi. He was a future India prospect.
Later that year, on August 18, 2008, Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka.
The journey from an Under-19 captain to an international superstar had begun.
3. The records that tell the story
Numbers cannot completely explain Kohli's greatness, but they provide an extraordinary picture of his consistency.
Here is a snapshot of his international career entering his 38th birthday, including his latest ODI appearance on November 4, 2026.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 123 | 9,230 | 46.85 | 30 |
| ODIs | 318 | 15,183 | 59.07 | 55 |
| T20Is | 125 | 4,188 | 48.69 | 1 |
| Total | 566 | 28,601 | - | 86 |
Some of his most remarkable achievements include:
- - Second-highest run-scorer in men's international cricket, behind Sachin Tendulkar.
- Second batter to reach 15,000 ODI runs.
- Fastest to 15,000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in 315 innings.
- First batter to score 50 ODI centuries.
- 55 ODI centuries, the highest tally in the format.
- 765 runs in the 2023 ODI World Cup, the highest individual tournament tally in men's World Cup history.
- Two-time ICC Men's T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament (2014 and 2016).
- Only Indian to have topped the ICC batting rankings in all three international formats.
The 2023 World Cup: A record-breaking campaign
The 2023 ODI World Cup in India was another defining chapter.
Kohli scored 765 runs in 11 innings, averaging 95.62, with three centuries and six half-centuries.
His 50th ODI century came against New Zealand in the semi-final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
It was a special moment because the record had belonged to his childhood inspiration, Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli had not just matched his idol's extraordinary achievement. He had gone past it.
He was named Player of the Tournament, even though India eventually lost the final to Australia.
4. The chase master: When pressure brings out the best
If there is one quality that separates Kohli from many other batters, it is his ability to understand a chase.
He does not always need to dominate from the first ball. He reads the situation, calculates the equation and gradually takes the game away from the opposition.
His ability to control run chases has earned him the nickname Chase Master.
Three innings stand out:
1. 133 against Sri Lanka, Hobart, 2012*India needed a challenging target in the CB Series, and Kohli produced an extraordinary unbeaten 133 from 86 deliveries. India chased down 321 in just 36.4 overs.
2. 82 against Australia, Mohali, 2016*India were in serious trouble at 49/3 while chasing 161 in the T20 World Cup. Kohli scored an unbeaten 82 from 51 balls, taking India into the semi-finals.
3. 82 against Pakistan, Melbourne, 2022*Perhaps the most unforgettable T20I innings of his career.
India were 31/4 while chasing 160. Kohli and Hardik Pandya rebuilt the innings before the former produced two extraordinary sixes against Haris Rauf.
India won on the final ball.
The straight six over the Haris Rauf's head remains one of the most replayed shots in modern T20 cricket. Later it was voted as the "Shot of the Century" by the fans and commentators.
"One Shot. A Billion Memories. The Night Virat Kohli Defied Physics."
These innings were not simply about striking boundaries. They were about keeping belief alive when the odds appeared to be against India.
5. The World Cup moments: From 2011 to 2024
Kohli's career has been closely connected with India's biggest ICC triumphs.
2011 – The World Cup dream
At just 22, Kohli was part of India's World Cup-winning team.
In the final against Sri Lanka at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, India lost both openers early while chasing 275.
Kohli walked in and stitched together an important 83-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir.
He scored 35, but his contribution was crucial in stabilising the innings before MS Dhoni and Gambhir took India towards history.
For a young Kohli, it was the fulfilment of a childhood dream.
2013 – Champions Trophy glory
Kohli was part of India's Champions Trophy-winning team in England.
In the rain-affected final against the hosts, he scored 43 from 34 balls, helping India post a competitive total in a shortened contest.
India won the final by five runs under the DLS method.
2024 – The ultimate T20 World Cup farewell
June 29, 2024, will always remain a special date in Indian cricket.
India were facing South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. After a difficult tournament with the bat, Kohli delivered when it mattered most.
He scored 76 from 59 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes.
India posted 176/7 and eventually defended the total, winning by seven runs to end an 11-year wait for an ICC senior men's trophy.
Kohli was named Player of the Match.
But the biggest surprise came during the presentation ceremony.
He announced that he had played his final T20 World Cup and would be retiring from T20 Internationals.
It was an emotional farewell to a format in which he had given India so many memorable performances.
His T20I career ended with 4,188 runs in 125 matches and an extraordinary record of 1,292 runs in Men's T20 World Cups.
2025 – Another ICC title
Kohli added another major trophy to his collection at the 2025 Champions Trophy.
His century against Pakistan in the group stage was another reminder of his ability to rise to the occasion against India's biggest rivals.
India eventually won the tournament, giving Kohli another ICC title.
He also announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, finishing with 9,230 runs and 30 centuries in 123 matches.
6. Beyond cricket: Anushka Sharma, family and fatherhood
While the cricketing world knows Kohli for his aggression and competitive spirit, his personal life has revealed a different side of the man.
His relationship with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma became one of the most talked-about relationships in Indian celebrity culture.
The couple married on December 11, 2017, in an intimate ceremony in Italy.
Their relationship has often attracted public attention, but both have largely tried to maintain privacy around their family.
They welcomed their daughter, Vamika, in January 2021, followed by their son, Akaay, in February 2024.
Fatherhood has added another dimension to Kohli's life.
In interviews and public appearances, he has spoken about the importance of family, balance and the perspective that life beyond cricket provides.
His wife has also been a constant presence through some of the most challenging and successful phases of his career.
There is an interesting contrast here.
On the cricket field, Kohli is known for wearing his emotions openly. Away from it, he has increasingly chosen to keep his family life private.
And perhaps that is one of the biggest changes in his journey from the young, fiery Delhi cricketer to the experienced family man.
7. The transformation: Fitness, discipline and leadership
One of Kohli's biggest contributions to Indian cricket goes beyond his batting records.
He helped change the fitness culture of Indian cricket.
During his rise as a Test captain, Kohli placed enormous emphasis on physical conditioning, athletic fielding, endurance and professional standards.
His own transformation became an example for younger cricketers.
The impact was visible in India's approach to overseas cricket, particularly in Test matches.
As captain, he led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them. India also recorded its first-ever Test series victory in Australia during the 2018–19 tour.
His captaincy was characterised by an aggressive approach, a preference for taking the game forward and an insistence on competing regardless of the opposition or conditions.
He eventually stepped down as India's T20I and ODI captain and later relinquished the Test captaincy in 2022.
Although leadership roles changed, his influence on the team and the expectations placed on Indian cricketers remained significant.
8. November 4, 2026: Still making headlines
There could hardly be a more appropriate way to approach a birthday than by continuing to deliver on the field.
On November 4, just a day before turning 38, Kohli scored 74 from 51 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI in Auckland.
It was his 80th ODI half-century.
India won the rain-affected contest by five wickets, and Kohli once again demonstrated that his appetite for international cricket remains strong.
At an age when many players have already moved away from international cricket, Kohli continues to be a major part of India's ODI plans.
He has retired from T20Is and Tests, but the ODI format still offers him new milestones to pursue.
And for his supporters, every appearance in the number 18 jersey is an opportunity to witness another chapter.
9. What makes Virat Kohli special?
There have been several great batters in Indian cricket. Sachin Tendulkar inspired a generation. Rahul Dravid represented patience and technique. Sourav Ganguly brought a new competitive identity to Indian cricket. MS Dhoni showed the value of calmness under pressure.
Kohli's identity has been built around a different combination.
- Hunger for runs: Even after achieving almost everything, his desire to score remains visible.
- Chasing ability: He has repeatedly turned difficult run chases into winning opportunities.
- Mental toughness: His response to setbacks has been an important part of his career.
- Fitness standards: He helped make fitness a non-negotiable part of modern Indian cricket.
- Passion: His celebrations, intensity and connection with supporters make him one of the most recognisable personalities in the sport.
His journey has also included difficult periods. The 2020–22 batting slump, questions about his form and the pressure of captaincy tested him.
But he responded with a memorable Asia Cup 2022 century against Afghanistan, followed by some of the finest innings of his career in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups.
That ability to return is an important part of his story.
10. Happy birthday, Virat: The story is still being written
From a young boy holding a cricket bat in Delhi to captaining India, from an Under-19 World Cup victory to lifting the T20 World Cup in Barbados, Virat Kohli's journey has been extraordinary.
He has given Indian cricket 86 international centuries, countless match-winning performances and memories that will remain with fans for decades.
But perhaps his greatest achievement is the connection he has built with millions of cricket lovers.
For some, he is the man who made chasing targets look easy. For others, he is the batter who broke Sachin Tendulkar's ODI century record. For an entire generation, he is the reason they started believing that fitness, aggression and ambition could redefine Indian cricket.
And then there is that number.
18
A number that represents a journey, a legacy and a story that millions of fans have followed.
Happy 38th birthday, Virat Kohli!
The records may eventually be broken. The statistics may one day be surpassed. But the memories of those impossible chases, emotional celebrations and unforgettable victories will remain.
Because some cricketers play the game. Virat Kohli makes people feel it.
