On November 5, 2023, Virat Kohli turned 35 and marked the day with his 49th ODI century at Eden Gardens, matching Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He turns 38 tomorrow. This Virat Kohli biography covers the Delhi boy who became one of the most productive batters cricket has seen, with a look at his records and his reported net worth.
Early Life in Delhi
Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi. His father, Prem, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj, looked after the home. Cricket arrived early, and he spent much of his childhood with a bat in his hands.
His father enrolled him at the West Delhi Cricket Academy when he was about nine. Coach Rajkumar Sharma guided his early growth. Prem Kohli died in December 2006, and Virat played a Ranji Trophy match the next day. Grit has defined his career ever since.
Under-19 Captain and ODI Debut
In 2008, Kohli captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia. The win put him in the spotlight. Later that year, he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
He didn’t dominate at first, but selectors saw something. His T20I debut came in 2010 against Zimbabwe. His Test debut followed in 2011, against the West Indies in Kingston. Early struggles in Tests taught him patience, and he kept working on technique.
Rise as a Chase Master
By 2012, Kohli was India’s go-to batter in run chases. He built innings carefully, rotating the strike and punishing loose balls. Few players were better at pacing a target down.
The 2012 Asia Cup against Pakistan is a clear example. He made 183 in Mirpur, his highest ODI score. Fans still revisit that innings. It showed a rare mix of aggression and control in a high-pressure chase.
Two Chases That Made His Name
In January 2012, Kohli scored an unbeaten 133 against Sri Lanka in Hobart. India needed to chase a big target in a short time to keep their tri-series hopes alive. He did it with room to spare, and cricket fans started calling him the best chaser in the world.
Later that year came the Mirpur innings against Pakistan. Together, the two knocks gave him a reputation that never really left. Teams knew that if a target was gettable, Kohli would be there at the end. Chase mastery became his calling card.
Captaincy and Test Success
Kohli took over as India’s Test captain in 2014. He led the side in 68 Tests and won 40 of them. India reached the top of the Test rankings under his leadership, and the team’s fitness standards rose with him.
His best result may have been the 2018-19 series in Australia. India won 2-1, the first Test series win by an Indian side there. Kohli stepped down as T20I captain in 2021 and as Test captain in January 2022.
Test Career Numbers
- 9,230 runs
- 30 centuries
- 7 double centuries
He retired from Test cricket in May 2025.
Test Highlights
Kohli scored his first Test double century in 2016 against the West Indies in Antigua. His highest Test score is 254 not out, made against South Africa in Pune in 2019. Both innings came while he was captain, and both showed a batter who wanted long scores, not quick ones.
Numbers don’t capture it fully. Kohli turned Tests into a priority for a generation of Indian fans, and India’s fast bowlers thrived in the era he led. Test intent was his message to the team.
The Long Dip and the Comeback
Between late 2019 and 2022, Kohli went without an international century. For a player used to scoring them in bunches, it was a strange stretch. Critics spoke loudly, and he stepped away from captaincy during the same period.
The drought ended in September 2022 at the Asia Cup, where he scored 122 not out against Afghanistan in a T20I. It was his first international hundred in nearly three years. The knock brought relief, and the form that followed carried him into the 2023 World Cup.
Records That Define Him
The ODI record is the headline. Kohli has scored more than 50 ODI hundreds, the most in men’s ODI history. He passed Tendulkar’s 49 in the 2023 World Cup semifinal at Wankhede, where he reached his 50th.
That tournament was special. He scored 765 runs, the most in any single World Cup, and was named Player of the Tournament. In February 2025, he became the fastest to reach 14,000 ODI runs. Chasing consistency is what sets him apart from most great batters.
The 2016 IPL Season
Kohli’s best IPL season came in 2016, when he scored 973 runs, a record for a single edition. He hit four centuries along the way, and RCB reached the final. They lost, but his batting dominated the tournament.
That season showed what he could do when everything clicked. Bowlers had no clear plan, and fielding captains ran out of ideas. It’s still the benchmark that other IPL batters get measured against.
IPL and T20 Highlights
Kohli has played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the first IPL season in 2008. He’s the franchise’s all-time leading run scorer. For years the trophy eluded him, and fans joked about it. In 2025, RCB finally won their first title.
Reports say RCB retained the title in 2026, with Kohli shining in the final. In T20Is, he retired after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados. He was Player of the Match in that final, scoring 76.
The 2023 World Cup in Detail
Kohli’s 49th ODI century came against South Africa at Eden Gardens on his birthday. A few days later, in the semifinal against New Zealand at Wankhede, he reached his 50th. Tendulkar was watching from the stands, which made the moment feel even more personal.
Tendulkar took far more innings to reach 49 centuries than Kohli did. That’s a point many analysts raise when comparing the two. Kohli’s 765 runs in the tournament underline how steady he was, even though India fell short in the final against Australia.
Champions Trophy 2025
In February 2025, Kohli passed 14,000 ODI runs in a match against Pakistan in Dubai. He did it while scoring an unbeaten century, and India won the game. India went on to win the Champions Trophy that March.
It was a fitting close to a period when many people wondered if he’d slow down. He didn’t. A few months later, he retired from Test cricket, but he kept playing ODIs and the IPL.
Fitness and Influence
Kohli changed how Indian players approach fitness. He adjusted his diet, trained harder and set standards that teammates followed. Fielding improved across the squad, and the fitness bar for new players moved up with him.
His influence goes beyond the dressing room. He’s one of the most followed athletes in India, and his on-field energy shapes how many fans see the game. Supporters love the intensity. Critics sometimes find it too much. Either way, nobody ignores him.
Family Life
Kohli married actress Anushka Sharma in December 2017 in Italy. They have a daughter, Vamika, born in January 2021, and a son, Akaay, born in February 2024. He keeps family life largely private, and rarely shares details beyond what he posts himself.
He still plays with the same fire. Off the field, he’s kept a lower profile than many stars of his stature, and that choice says something about how he separates the two worlds.
Virat Kohli Net Worth
Reports in 2026 estimate his net worth at around ₹1,115 crore, with a quoted range of roughly ₹1,040 to ₹1,200 crore. Other sources give lower figures, closer to ₹900 to ₹1,100 crore. Treat all of these as estimates.
His income comes from several sources. A BCCI central contract, IPL earnings and endorsements are major parts. He also holds stakes in other businesses, including the clothing brand Wrogn and a sneaker line called One8. Reports describe him as India’s wealthiest active cricketer.
Awards and Honours
Kohli received the Arjuna Award in 2013. The Padma Shri followed in 2017, and the Khel Ratna in 2018. The ICC also recognised him for his work across the decade from 2011 to 2020.
The honours capture how long he’s stayed at the top. Few players hold their level for more than fifteen years, and he’s done it across all three formats, which is why the longevity matters as much as the totals.
Key Takeaways
- Born: November 5, 1988, in Delhi.
- U19 success: Captained India to the 2008 World Cup title.
- ODI centuries: More than 50, the most in men’s ODI history.
- World Cup 2023: Scored 765 runs, a tournament record.
- Test career: 9,230 runs and 30 centuries before retiring in May 2025.
- Net worth: Estimated at around ₹1,115 crore in 2026.
FAQs
How many ODI centuries has Virat Kohli scored?
He has scored more than 50, the most by any men’s player.
When did Virat Kohli retire from Test cricket?
He retired from Tests in May 2025.
What is Virat Kohli’s net worth in 2026?
Reports estimate it at about ₹1,115 crore, though figures differ by source.
Which IPL team does Kohli play for?
He has played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since 2008.
When was Virat Kohli’s first ODI?
He debuted against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in August 2008.
Conclusion
This Virat Kohli biography shows what discipline can build. He captained India to major wins, broke the ODI century record and became a global brand. Whatever comes next, his place in Indian cricket is already secure.