On This Day, November 5: Virat Kohli burst onto the international cricket scene at a young age, making a significant impact by starring in two World Cups before turning 23. He captained the Indian Under-19 team to victory in Malaysia in 2008 and celebrated alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar after the senior team’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai.
Stellar ODI Career
In his first seven years in One Day Internationals (ODIs), Kohli amassed an impressive 23 centuries, ten of which came during successful chases. His ability to perform under pressure quickly established him as one of the game’s top players.
Breakthrough In Test Cricket
Kohli made his mark in Test cricket with a memorable maiden century in Adelaide, which was India’s only century during the 2011-12 series. He showcased his resilience by scoring twin hundreds in his first Test as captain at the same venue three years later. Following MS Dhoni’s retirement, Kohli became the full-time Test captain and led India to their first Test series win in Sri Lanka in 22 years.
Record-Breaking Milestones
In 2015, Kohli set records as the fastest player to reach 1,000 runs in T20 internationals and later became the fastest to 7,000 runs in ODIs. His form translated into Test cricket as well, where he averaged an astonishing 67.04 between July 2016 and July 2017, converting four of his six hundreds into double centuries.
Also Read: Virat Kohli Vs Australia: Record Breaking Test Knocks That Will Go Down In Cricket History
Historic Series Wins
Despite a disappointing 4-1 loss in England in 2018, where he scored 593 runs, Kohli bounced back by leading India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia six months later. In 2019, he became India’s most successful Test captain, achieving a career-best score of 254 against South Africa in Pune.
Continued Excellence
By 2021, Kohli had surpassed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket, becoming the first Indian to achieve this milestone. During the 2023 World Cup, he broke Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most ODI centuries, further cementing his status as a modern-day cricketing great.
Leadership Changes
In early 2022, Kohli stepped down from the Test captaincy and soon succeeded in limited-overs leadership roles, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket. His journey continues to inspire millions, as he remains a key figure in the sport.
Virat Kohli’s Statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Half-Centuries | Centuries |
| Tests | 118 | 9040 | 31 | 29 |
| ODIs | 295 | 13,906 | 72 | 50 |
| T20Is | 125 | 4188 | 38 | 1 |
| IPL | 252 | 8004 | 55 | 8 |
