Explore the legendary rise of King Kohli — from debut to retirement, breaking every possible record.
Early Life & U‑19 Breakthrough (2006–2008)
Before the world knew him as “King Kohli,” Virat Kohli’s journey began in the streets of Delhi. His passion for cricket started early, and by 2008, he led India to victory in the ICC Under‑19 World Cup in Malaysia.
👉 Want to know more about his childhood and early struggles?
🔗 Read full story: Virat Kohli – Journey From Childhood to Cricket Stardom
ODI Debut & Rise in Indian Team (2008–2012)
- ODI Debut: August 2008 vs Sri Lanka
- Scored maiden ODI century in December 2009
- Became a regular member by 2010, winning matches with consistency
- Test Debut: 2011 vs West Indies
- First Test Century: January 2012 in Adelaide
This period laid the foundation for the powerhouse he would become.
Captaincy Era & Test Dominance (2013–2019)
- Took over as Test captain in 2014, after MS Dhoni’s retirement
- Led India to series wins in Australia, England & West Indies
- Known for aggressive leadership and unmatched fitness
- Achieved India’s #1 Test ranking under his captaincy
- Named ICC Cricketer of the Year multiple times
ODI & World Cup Brilliance
- 2011: Key member of World Cup-winning squad
- 2019: Led India to the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup
- Became the fastest player to reach 8,000, 9,000 & 10,000 ODI runs
- In 2023, finished as the top run-scorer in the World Cup
- By 2025, had 51 ODI centuries—only behind Sachin Tendulkar
IPL Milestones & 2025 Victory
- Played all 17 seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Most runs in IPL history, most boundaries, and most fifties
- Finally lifted the IPL trophy in 2025, ending RCB’s drought
Fun Fact: Kohli became the first player in IPL to score 1,000 runs against 4 different teams!
T20I Career & Emotional Exit (2024)
- Retired from T20Is after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup
- Played a match-winning knock (76*) in the final vs South Africa
- Ended T20I career with 4,008 runs – second highest ever
Final Test, Retirement & Immortal Legacy (2025)
In May 2025, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. He walked away with:
- 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, 7 double tons
- Most wins by an Indian Test captain (40 wins in 68 matches)
- 4th highest Indian Test run-scorer ever
🔗 Dive deeper into his emotional goodbye and achievements:
👉 Virat Kohli Retirement & Legacy
Awards & Records That Define Greatness
- Arjuna Award (2013)
- Padma Shri (2017)
- Khel Ratna (2018)
- Only player to play 300 matches in all three formats by 2025
- First player with 1,000 IPL boundaries
- Most ODI centuries in chases (27)
The End of an Era, The Rise of a Legacy
From a fiery youngster to one of cricket’s greatest icons, Virat Kohli redefined Indian cricket with intensity, class, and unmatched discipline. He isn’t just a player—he’s a mindset. A legend. A phenomenon.
And while his bat may rest in the dressing room now, his impact will echo in every rising cricketer who dares to dream big.
