Key Points:
- Born November 5, 1988 in Delhi; turns 37 today with worldwide tributes from teammates and fans
- Holds record for most ODI centuries (51), surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 49 hundreds
- Third-highest run-scorer across all formats with 27,673 runs; trails only Tendulkar and Sangakkara
- Retired from Test and T20I cricket; now focuses exclusively on ODIs ahead of 2027 World Cup
- First batsman to score 6,000+ runs while chasing in ODIs (6,072 runs at 89.29 average)
- Fastest to 13,000 ODI runs (278 matches), breaking Tendulkar’s record (321 matches)
- Most half-centuries in T20Is (39), tied with Pakistan’s Babar Azam
- Led India to T20 World Cup victory in 2024 before announcing T20I retirement
- Scored memorable 101 on 35th birthday in 2023 ODI World Cup vs South Africa, equaling Tendulkar’s century record
- Known for incredible fitness transformation post-2012, inspiring entire Team India
Virat Kohli has redefined what it means to chase targets in limited-overs cricket. His unparalleled record in successful ODI run chases stands as a testament to his mental fortitude under pressure. Kohli became the first batsman in cricket history to accumulate over 6,000 runs in successful ODI chases, finishing with 6,072 runs in 102 innings across 108 matches at a staggering average of 89.29 and strike rate of 96.48.
During these chases, he scored 24 centuries and 27 half-centuries while remaining unbeaten 34 times, a conversion rate that demonstrates his ability to finish games. Remarkably, he was dismissed for zero only three times in these high-pressure situations. Sachin Tendulkar, second on this list, scored 5,490 runs in 127 matches at an average of 55.45 and a strike rate of 90.08, including 14 centuries and 31 half-centuries, impressive numbers that pale compared to Kohli’s extraordinary consistency.
Breaking Sachin’s Records: The ODI Domination
Kohli’s ODI career represents a sustained assault on cricket’s record books. On September 10, 2023, during a match against Pakistan, he became the fastest player to reach 13,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 278 matches—43 matches fewer than Sachin Tendulkar’s 321 matches.
His crowning achievement came during the 2023 ODI World Cup when he scored his 50th ODI century, surpassing Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 49 centuries. That historic moment occurred at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on his 35th birthday, November 5, 2023, when he scored 101 runs off 121 balls against South Africa, an unforgettable birthday gift to himself and cricket fans worldwide.
Currently, Kohli has amassed 14,255 runs in 305 ODIs, including 51 centuries and 75 half-centuries, making him the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history behind only Tendulkar’s 18,426 runs. His dominance against specific opponents is equally impressive. He holds the record for most ODI centuries against a single team with 10 centuries against Sri Lanka.
T20 Excellence and Timely Retirement
Though Kohli retired from T20 internationals after India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the United States and West Indies in 2024, his legacy in the format remains intact. With 39 half-centuries in T20Is, he shares the record for most fifties in the format with Pakistan’s Babar Azam. In 125 T20I matches, Kohli scored 4,188 runs, including one century and 38 half-centuries.
His decision to retire from T20Is came immediately after helping India win the World Cup, a fitting farewell that demonstrated his ability to exit on his own terms at the peak rather than overstaying his welcome.
Test Cricket Legacy: The Painful Farewell
Kohli’s Test career, which concluded before the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, saw him amass 9,230 runs in 123 matches across 210 innings at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest Test score of 254 not out showcased his ability to build massive innings.
Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli experienced one of the strongest prime runs in Test cricket history, scoring 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, including 16 centuries and 10 fifties. Remarkably, he scored seven double centuries during this period—the most by any captain in Test cricket history. As Test captain, he led India to nine consecutive series victories, equalling Ricky Ponting’s record, and became India’s most successful Test captain on foreign soil with landmark series victories in Australia, West Indies, and Sri Lanka.
The Defining Moment: Playing On After His Father’s Death
The most emotional and transformative moment in Kohli’s career occurred in 2006 during a Ranji Trophy match. When his father, Prem Kohli, passed away, 18-year-old Virat received the devastating news in the morning but chose to take the field for Delhi against Karnataka. Despite his grief, he played a courageous innings of 90 runs before leaving to perform his father’s last rites. This incident fundamentally changed his approach to cricket, instilling a resilience and determination that would define his career.
The Fitness Revolution: From Butter Chicken to Peak Athlete
Kohli once admitted his fondness for butter chicken and chicken rolls dominated his diet in his early career. However, after 2012, he underwent a complete lifestyle transformation, eliminating sugar and fried foods from his diet while adopting rigorous fitness routines. This transformation didn’t just change Kohli; it revolutionized Indian cricket’s entire fitness culture as teammates followed his example and raised their own standards.
Today, Kohli is regarded as one of the fittest athletes in world cricket, his chiseled physique and stamina becoming as iconic as his batting records. His disciplined approach to nutrition, training, and recovery has extended his career and maintained his performance levels well into his mid-thirties.
Respect for Legends: Dhoni and Tendulkar
Despite achieving captain status and setting countless records, Kohli has consistently expressed deep respect for his mentors. He has repeatedly stated that MS Dhoni remains his “captain forever,” describing Dhoni as his mentor and brother. In a 2016 interview, Kohli said: “Dhoni taught me to trust when everyone else doubted me.”
His reverence for Sachin Tendulkar manifested in one of cricket’s most iconic moments. After India won the 2011 World Cup final, Kohli lifted Tendulkar onto his shoulders, later explaining: “Sachin carried the entire country for 21 years, now it was our turn to lift him.” This gesture became one of the most emotional scenes in cricket history, symbolizing the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.
Life Beyond Cricket: Anushka, Fashion, and Luxury
Off the field, Kohli’s life has been equally remarkable. He met Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in 2013 during a shampoo advertisement shoot. Their friendship blossomed into romance, culminating in a private wedding ceremony in Italy in 2017. The couple, parents to daughter Vamika and son Akaay, are considered India’s ultimate “power couple,” seamlessly blending cricket stardom with Bollywood glamour.
Kohli is also passionate about video games, fashion, and luxury automobiles, owning an impressive collection that includes Bentleys, Audis, and Range Rovers. His fashion sense and entrepreneurial ventures have made him one of India’s most marketable athletes.
Birthday Performances: Delivering Under Pressure
Kohli has played several matches on his birthday, with mixed but memorable results. On November 5, 2015, his 27th birthday, he led India in a Test match against South Africa in Mohali, marking the beginning of his era as Test captain. On his 33rd birthday in 2021, he played against Scotland in the T20 World Cup, scoring an unbeaten 2 runs in what would be his final match as T20I captain before India’s group-stage elimination.
But his most memorable birthday performance came on November 5, 2023, his 35th birthday, when he scored 101 runs off 121 balls against South Africa in the ODI World Cup at Eden Gardens, equalling Tendulkar’s record. That innings encapsulated Kohli’s ability to deliver in the most pressure-laden situations on the biggest stages.
Looking Ahead: The 2027 World Cup Dream
Having retired from Test and T20I cricket, Kohli now focuses exclusively on ODIs with his sights set on the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup. At 37, he remains determined to maintain his fitness and form alongside Rohit Sharma, both veterans committed to one final World Cup campaign. Given his unparalleled ODI record and chase mastery, Kohli’s presence in 2027 could prove decisive for India’s title aspirations.
The King’s Legacy
As tributes pour in today from former teammates like Yuvraj Singh, who posted: “Once a King, always a King. Happy birthday @imVkohli” and from IPL franchises, the BCCI, and millions of fans worldwide, Kohli’s legacy is secure. With nearly 28,000 runs across formats, 51 ODI centuries, revolutionary fitness standards, and a career defined by consistency under pressure, Virat Kohli has earned his title as the “King of Cricket.”
From the grief-stricken teenager who played through his father’s death to the fitness icon who transformed Indian cricket culture, from “Chiku” (his childhood nickname) to “Chasemaster,” Kohli’s journey embodies determination, discipline, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. As he celebrates his 37th birthday, cricket fans worldwide celebrate not just a great player but a legend whose impact will resonate for generations.
