Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Virat Kohli

Discover the career path of Virat Kohli, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Virat Kohli is a prominent Indian international cricketer, formerly captaining the Indian national team. A right-handed batsman and occasional bowler, he represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and Delhi domestically. Celebrated as one of the greatest limited-overs batsmen ever, he holds the record for most ODI centuries and is second for international centuries and is the highest run-scorer in the IPL. Kohli contributed to India's victories in the 2011 Cricket World Cup, 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy. As captain, India held the ICC World Test Championship Mace from 2016-2020, winning the season prize three times.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

February 2006: Debut in List A Cricket

In February 2006, Virat Kohli made his debut in List A cricket, playing against Services in the Ranji One-Day Trophy, though he did not get the opportunity to bat.

July 2006: Selection in India Under-19 Squad

In July 2006, Virat Kohli was selected for the India Under-19 squad for the tour of England, where he averaged 105 in the ODI series and 49 in the Test series.

November 2006: First-Class Debut and Father's Death

In November 2006, Virat Kohli made his first-class debut during the Ranji Trophy season against Tamil Nadu, scoring ten runs. Later in the same match, his father passed away, but Kohli returned to score 90 runs, demonstrating immense determination.

April 2007: Entry into T20 Cricket

In April 2007, Virat Kohli entered T20 cricket during the Inter-State T20 Championship and emerged as the top run-getter for his team, scoring 179 runs at an average of 35.80.

2007: Tour of New Zealand with India U-19

In early 2007, Virat Kohli was part of the India U-19 team that toured New Zealand, where he scored 113 in the first Test match.

August 2008: International Career Debut

In August 2008, Virat Kohli began his international career with a "surprise call-up" to the ODI squad for a tour of Sri Lanka, opening the batting due to injuries to senior players and scoring his first half-century in the fourth match.

Sep 2008: Performance in Nissar Trophy

In September 2008, Virat Kohli played in the Nissar Trophy against SNGPL, where he was the leading scorer for Delhi in both innings, registering 52 runs in the first innings and 197 in the second, though the match ended in a draw.

2008: Acquisition by Royal Challengers Bangalore

In 2008, Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired Kohli for $50,000 in the inaugural Indian Premier League season. Kohli managed one run in the opening match and concluded the season with 165 runs.

2008: Victory in U-19 World Cup

In 2008, Virat Kohli led the Indian squad to victory in the U-19 World Cup held in Malaysia. He scored 100 runs off 74 balls, versus the West Indies Under-19s and also captured 2 wickets and contributed 43 runs in the semi-final against New Zealand Under-19s.

2008: Signed to Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment

In 2008, Virat Kohli was approached by Bunty Sajdeh of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment after his performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup and signed to the agency after a recommendation from Yuvraj Singh.

December 2009: Maiden ODI Century

In December 2009, Virat Kohli scored his maiden ODI century against Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone in his international career.

2009: Runner-up finish with Royal Challengers Bangalore

In 2009, Kohli found form with a half-century and made crucial contributions, including in the semi-final victory over Chennai Super Kings. Bangalore finished as runners-up, losing to Deccan Chargers in the final.

2009: Return to Domestic Cricket

In 2009, Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket during the Ranji Trophy season and scored 67 runs against Maharashtra, contributing to Delhi's victory.

2010: Continued Success in ODIs

By early 2010, Virat Kohli became the third Indian to score two ODI centuries before turning 22.

2010: Vice-captaincy and Champions League T20 performances

In 2010, Kohli was elevated to the role of vice-captain. He delivered key performances in the 2010 Champions League T20, helping Bangalore reach the semi-finals.

2010: Appointment as Vice-Captain and Scoring 1,000 ODI Runs

In 2010, Virat Kohli was appointed vice-captain for a tri-series in Zimbabwe and became the then fastest Indian to score 1,000 ODI runs.

June 2011: Test Debut Against the West Indies

In June 2011, Virat Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies, but struggled initially and was dropped.

2011: Retained by Bangalore and IPL Final Appearance

Ahead of the 2011 season, Kohli was the sole player retained by Bangalore for $1.8 million. He stepped in as captain during Daniel Vettori’s absence and earned praise for his leadership. Bangalore advanced to the final.

January 2012: Maiden Test Century in Adelaide

In January 2012, Virat Kohli scored his maiden Test century in Adelaide.

2012: Inconsistent IPL season and Captaincy

In the 2012 IPL season, Kohli assumed captaincy from Vettori midway through the season but could not guide Bangalore into the playoffs. Kohli ended the campaign with 364 runs.

2013: Champions Trophy win and Captaincy Appointment

In 2013, Kohli was a key player in India's batting lineup and contributed to India's Champions Trophy victory. During a tri-series in the West Indies in 2013, he was appointed captain for the first time, scoring his first century as skipper. He also set records, including the fastest ODI century by an Indian.

2013: Established Virat Kohli Foundation

In 2013, Virat Kohli established the "Virat Kohli Foundation," a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting underprivileged children.

2013: Endorsements Valued at Over ₹100 Crore

In 2013, Virat Kohli's endorsements were valued at over ₹100 crore (US$12 million), reflecting his growing brand value.

2013: Full-time captaincy and Playoff Miss

In the 2013 season, Kohli was promoted to full-time captain and began strongly but failed to qualify for the playoffs despite his individual scores.

2014: Brand Value Evaluated at $56.4 Million

In 2014, American Appraisal evaluated Virat Kohli's brand value at $56.4 million, ranking him fourth among India's most valued celebrity brands.

2014: Difficult England tour and Test Captaincy

In 2014, Kohli had a difficult tour of England, averaging 13.4. He regained his form later and was named the full-time Test captain after MS Dhoni's retirement during the tour of Australia. He received the Man of the Tournament award at the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 for his performance.

2014: Business Ventures

In 2014, Virat Kohli became a co-owner of the Indian Super League club FC Goa and launched WROGN, a men's casual wear brand, in partnership with Universal Sportsbiz. Additionally, he became a shareholder and brand ambassador for Sport Convo, a social networking platform for sports fans.

2014: Participated in Charity Auction

In 2014, the Virat Kohli Foundation participated in a charity auction organized by eBay and Save the Children India to support its philanthropic efforts.

2014: Challenging IPL campaign

In the 2014 season, Kohli endured a challenging campaign. Bangalore lost six of their first nine matches and was eventually eliminated from playoff contention. Kohli ended the season with a 73 against Chennai.

2015: 2015 World Cup and Test series win in Sri Lanka

In 2015, after a strong start to the World Cup with a century against Pakistan, Kohli's tournament ended with a score of 1 in the semi-final loss to Australia. Following this, he led the team to his first Test series win as captain in Sri Lanka in 2015.

2015: Consistent Returns and Playoff Elimination

In the 2015 season, Kohli maintained consistent returns, scoring 505 runs in 16 matches. Under Kohli’s captaincy, Bangalore reached the playoffs but were eliminated in Qualifier 2 by Chennai.

October 2016: Brand Worth Increased to $92 Million

In October 2016, Virat Kohli's brand worth increased to $92 million, making him second only to Shah Rukh Khan among Indian celebrities.

2016: Player of the Tournament at ICC World T20

In 2016, Kohli was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC World T20. During the same year, from 2016 to 2018, he began a peak phase of his career.

2016: Launch of Stepathlon Kids

In 2016, Virat Kohli helped launch Stepathlon Kids, an initiative to encourage children to adopt healthy lifestyles.

2016: Partnership with Smile Foundation and ABIL Foundation

In 2016, the Virat Kohli Foundation partnered with the Smile Foundation to support education for underprivileged children and with the ABIL Foundation to aid senior citizens in old-age homes.

2016: Record-breaking IPL Season

The 2016 season marked a significant phase in Kohli’s career. He began with a series of half-centuries and registered his maiden T20 century against Gujarat. He finished the season with a record 973 runs and claimed both the Orange Cap and the Most Valuable Player award.

2017: Champions Trophy captaincy

In 2017, Kohli was appointed captain for the Champions Trophy, where India finished as runners-up.

2017: Endorsement Agreement with Puma

In 2017, Virat Kohli entered into an eight-year endorsement agreement with Puma, valued at ₹1.1 billion (US$13 million), making him the first Indian athlete with a ₹100 crore endorsement deal with a single brand.

2017: International Efforts and Athlete Development Programme

In 2017, Virat Kohli hosted a gala dinner in London to support Justice and Care and established the Athlete Development Programme (ADP) to support young athletes. The Virat Kohli Foundation also partnered with the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group to host a celebrity golf tournament to fund the ADP.

2017: Partnership with Puma and Establishment of Nueva

In 2017, Virat Kohli partnered with Puma to introduce his athletic lifestyle brand, One8. He also established Nueva, a fine-dining restaurant in New Delhi, and launched One8 Commune, a chain of restaurant bars.

2017: Injury and Difficult IPL Campaign

In the 2017 season, Kohli missed the opening three matches due to a shoulder injury. Bangalore endured a difficult campaign and were eliminated early, finishing at the bottom of the table. That same year, he was named in ESPNcricinfo’s all-time IPL XI.

2018: Most Expensive Player and Early Exit

Ahead of 2018, Kohli was retained for ₹17 crore, making him the most expensive player at the time. He crossed the 500-run mark for a record fifth time, but Bangalore failed to advance beyond the league stage.

2018: No. 1 Test batsman and Test series victory in Australia

In 2018, Kohli became the No. 1 ranked Test batsman and led India to its first-ever Test series victory in Australia.

2018: Documentary Released on National Geographic

In 2018, a documentary highlighting Virat Kohli's cricketing career was released on the National Geographic channel, celebrating his achievements in the sport.

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March 2019: Brand Ambassador of Mobile Premier League

In March 2019, Virat Kohli was named the brand ambassador of the mobile esports platform, Mobile Premier League.

November 2019: 70th International Century

In November 2019, Kohli scored his 70th international century, after which he experienced a prolonged lean patch.

2019: Investment in Mobile Premier League (MPL)

In 2019, Virat Kohli invested in Galactus Funware Technology Pvt Ltd, the parent company of Mobile Premier League (MPL).

2019: Tactical Changes and Playoff Miss

In the 2019 season, Kohli moved down the order, a tactical change that did not yield the desired results. Bangalore had lost their first six matches and again failed to reach the playoffs.

2020: Investment in Digit

Early in 2020, Virat Kohli and his spouse, jointly invested ₹2.5 crore in Digit, an insurance-based startup.

2020: Donations to COVID-19 Relief Funds

In 2020, Virat Kohli and his wife pledged donations to the PM CARES Fund and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Playoff Qualification and Conservative Strike Rate

In the 2020 season, after a slow start, Kohli helped Bangalore qualify for the playoffs. However, his conservative strike rate and early dismissal in the eliminator contributed to the team's exit.

April 2021: Brand Ambassador for Vivo

In April 2021, Vivo appointed Virat Kohli as their brand ambassador ahead of the Indian Premier League.

2021: Milestones and Captaincy Decision

In 2021, Kohli reached multiple individual milestones, including becoming the first player to play 200 matches for Bangalore and surpassing 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. Midway through the season, Kohli announced his decision to step down from captaincy at the end of the campaign.

2021: Fundraising Campaign and Animal Welfare Initiative

In 2021, Virat Kohli and his wife organized a fundraising campaign on Ketto titled '#InThisTogether', raising over ₹11 crore for COVID relief efforts. They also collaborated with the Awaaz Foundation to establish a rehabilitation center for stray animals in Mumbai.

2021: Investments in Hyperice, Blue Tribe, and Rage Coffee

In 2021, Virat Kohli became an athlete-investor and ambassador for Hyperice, a wellness brand. He also invested in Blue Tribe, a plant-based meat startup, and Rage Coffee, a coffee brand, becoming its brand ambassador.

2022: Stepping down from captaincy

By 2022, Kohli had stepped down from the T20I, ODI, and Test captaincy in succession.

2022: Lean Patch and Playoff Qualification

In 2022, Kohli faced a prolonged lean patch, recording multiple low scores and three ducks. He responded with a 73-run innings in a must-win match that secured Bangalore a place in the playoffs, but failed to make a significant impact in the knockout games.

2022: Return to form at Asia Cup and T20 World Cup

In 2022, Kohli's return to form began at the Asia Cup, where he scored his maiden T20I century. He was also the highest run-scorer at the 2022 T20 World Cup, including an impactful innings against Pakistan.

January 2023: Marketable Cricketer

As of January 2023, Virat Kohli is regarded as the most marketable cricketer, earning an estimated ₹165 crore (US$20 million) annually. He is also the most followed Asian individual on Instagram, with over 266 million followers and earns ₹8.9 crore (₹9.4 crore or US$1.1 million in 2023) per sponsored post.

2023: Player of the Tournament at 2023 World Cup

In 2023, Kohli's peak resurgence came at the World Cup on home soil, where he was named the Player of the Tournament for scoring a record 765 runs. During the tournament, he also scored his 50th ODI hundred, surpassing Tendulkar's record.

2023: Consistent form and Playoff Miss

In the 2023 season, Kohli maintained steady form, registering five half-centuries in the first eight matches. Despite ending the season with back-to-back centuries, Bangalore failed to secure a playoff spot. Kohli concluded the campaign with 639 runs.

2024: Record Performance and Playoff Entry

In 2024, Kohli played in rhythm, scoring several fifties and a career-best unbeaten 113 against Rajasthan, though it came in a defeat. Bangalore recovered from a six-match losing streak with a six-match winning streak to enter the playoffs, with Kohli contributing significantly, including a notable 92 off 47. He ended the season with 741 runs, earning the Orange Cap for the second time.

May 12, 2025: Retirement from Test cricket

On May 12, 2025, after poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy performances, Kohli announced that the Test-series would be his last, marking his retirement from Test cricket.

May 2025: Investment in Agilitas and World Bowling League

In May 2025, Virat Kohli joined sports athleisure brand Agilitas as an investor, concluding his eight-year contract with Puma. He also became a Strategic Investor in the World Bowling League (WBL).

2025: First IPL Title

In the 2025 IPL season, Kohli scored 657 runs in 15 innings, finishing as the tournament's third-highest run-scorer. In the final against Punjab Kings, he contributed 43 runs off 35 balls as Bengaluru posted 190/9, eventually winning the match by six runs. The victory marked the franchise’s first IPL title, ending an 18-year wait.