Indian batting icon Virat Kohli celebrated his 38th birthday on Thursday, marking nearly two decades of a career that has seen him evolve from a promising youth talent into one of the most prolific run-scorers in cricket history. Since his early days with Delhi, where he first made his mark in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy campaign, Kohli has navigated the pressures of elite sport to become a central figure in Indian cricket.
Kohli’s journey includes significant achievements across all formats. In Test cricket, he has amassed 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. His tenure as Test captain was particularly notable, yielding 40 victories in 68 matches—the most by any Indian skipper—and seven double centuries, a record for a Test captain. His performance in overseas conditions has been equally impactful, with 12 centuries in SENA countries, including seven in Australia, the highest tally for an Asian batter in that nation.
In the ODI format, Kohli stands as the world's second-highest run-getter with 15,183 runs in 318 matches. He has established himself as a master of run-chases, holding the record for the most runs in successful ODI chases with 6,477 runs at an average of 89.95. His ability to perform under pressure is further reflected in his record of 45 centuries in winning causes. Additionally, he remains the only cricketer to maintain a batting average of 50 or more in nine out of the 10 countries where he has played.
Kohli’s T20 career has been marked by consistency and explosive scoring. He has accumulated 14,218 runs across 430 matches, including 4,188 runs in T20 Internationals. His prowess in successful T20I chases is highlighted by an average of 78.61. Between 2023 and 2026, he became the only batter to record four consecutive seasons with over 600 runs in the IPL. He also shares the distinction, alongside Jasprit Bumrah, of being a 'Player of the Match' in both IPL and T20 World Cup finals.
Across his international career, Kohli has totaled 28,601 runs in 566 matches, featuring 86 centuries. He holds the unique distinction of being the only player to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade, achieving this feat between 2010 and 2019. His trophy cabinet is equally decorated, as he is the only cricketer to have won a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup, the Champions Trophy, the ICC Test Championship Mace, and the IPL. As he enters the final phase of his career, Kohli continues to focus on upcoming challenges, including the 2027 50-over World Cup.
