OTD Virat Kohli was born in 1988

One of cricket’s modern greats, Virat Kohli, was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi. From his early days, Kohli’s talent and hunger for success set him apart. Over the years, he has grown into one of the most ambitious and consistent cricketers, not only from India but across the world.

He is known for combining Sachin Tendulkar’s technical mastery with unmatched fitness standards, and Kohli redefined professionalism in modern cricket.

Kohli established himself as one of the most consistent all-format batters, making even the toughest run chases look effortless. He is fondly called ‘The Run Machine’, he rose through the ranks to become India’s captain across all formats.

Under his leadership, India enjoyed a prolonged stay at the top of the ICC Test rankings and registered their first-ever Test series win in Australia. India won 40 of the 68 Tests under his captaincy, making Kohli the fourth-most successful Test captain in history, behind Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.

Kohli has scored Test centuries in and against every opponent, except in Bangladesh, and became the first batter to reach 50 ODI hundreds, achieving the milestone during the 2023 World Cup semifinal in front of Tendulkar, the man whose record he surpassed. He also set records for being the fastest to 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 ODI runs.

Between 2016 and 2018, Kohli averaged 66.59 in Tests, scoring 14 centuries. Though his form dipped slightly after peaking with a career-best 254 against South Africa in Pune (2019), he remained a dominant figure.

Having retired from Tests and T20Is, Kohli finally lifted his maiden IPL trophy on his 18th attempt, adding to his remarkable list of achievements that include the 2008 U-19 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, 2013 and 2025 Champions Trophies, and the 2024 T20 World Cup.

In numbers, Kohli has scored 9230 runs in 123 Tests, 4188 runs in 125 T20Is, and continues to excel in ODIs with 14,255 runs in 305 matches. He is also the leading run-scorer in IPL history, amassing 8661 runs in 267 games.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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