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 an Indian international cricketer, a right-handed batsman, and a former captain of the Indian national team across all formats. Known as 'King Kohli,' 'Chase Master,' and 'Run Machine,' he is celebrated for his aggressive playing style, record-breaking performances, and leadership. Kohli holds the record for the most runs in the Indian Premier League and ranks high in international run-scoring charts across T20I, ODI, and overall cricket. He holds the record for the most ODI centuries and the second-most centuries in international cricket. Kohli is also notable for leading India to three consecutive Test mace wins.

Sections (4)

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

October 2002: Junior Cricket Debut

In October 2002, Virat Kohli's junior cricket career began at the Luhnu Cricket Ground against Himachal Pradesh.

2003: Captain of U-15 Team

During the 2003-04 season, Virat Kohli was appointed the captain of the U-15 team.

2004: Vijay Merchant Trophy Selection

Towards the end of 2004, Virat Kohli earned selection for the 2004–05 Vijay Merchant Trophy with the Delhi U-17 team.

2005: Exceptional performance in Cricket

In 2005, Virat Kohli commenced the 2005–06 season with a score of 227 against Punjab. He went on to score 228 runs against Baroda, leading Delhi to victory.

February 2006: List A Cricket Debut

On February 18, 2006, Virat Kohli made his debut in List A cricket, playing against Services in the Ranji One-Day Trophy.

July 2006: Selection in India Under-19 Squad

In July 2006, Virat Kohli was selected for the India Under-19 squad on its tour of England.

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

In November 2006, Virat Kohli made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy and continued to play after his father's death, scoring 90 runs against Karnataka.

April 2007: T20 Debut

In April 2007, Virat Kohli made his foray into T20 cricket during the Inter-State T20 Championship, emerging as the top run-getter for his team.

2007: Selection by Royal Challengers Bangalore

In 2007, Kohli was selected by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $50,000 through a draft, influenced by his performance in the U19 World Cup.

2007: India U-19 Team Tour

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.

June 2008: Border-Gavaskar Scholarship

In June 2008, Virat Kohli was awarded the Border–Gavaskar scholarship which provided an opportunity to train at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. He was also selected to represent India Emerging Players in the Emerging Players Tournament 2008, with his finest performance being a knock of 120 runs against New Zealand Emerging Players.

August 18, 2008: International Debut

On August 18, 2008, Virat Kohli made his international debut at the age of 19 in the first ODI of the Sri Lanka tour. In the 4th match of the series, Kohli scored his first half century in ODl consisting of fifty-four runs.

Sep 2008: Nissar Trophy Performance

In September 2008, Virat Kohli played in the Nissar Trophy against SNGPL, emerging as the leading scorer for Delhi in both innings, registering 52 runs in the first innings and 197 in the second.

2008: U-19 World Cup Victory

In 2008, Virat Kohli led the Indian squad to victory in the U-19 World Cup held in Malaysia. He amassed 235 runs and his century versus the West Indies Under-19s was lauded.

2008: Signed by Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment

In 2008, Virat Kohli was approached by sports agent Bunty Sajdeh of Cornerstone Sport and Entertainment after his performance in the ICC Under-19 World Cup and was signed to the company after being recommended by Yuvraj Singh.

2009: Ranji Trophy Season

During the 2009-10 Ranji Trophy season, Virat Kohli returned to domestic cricket and scored 67 runs against Maharashtra.

2009: Part of Indian Squad and Maiden ODI Century

In 2009, Kohli was included in the Indian squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy, utilized as a middle-order batsman. He scored his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 off 114 balls, and partnered with Gautam Gambhir for 224 runs, leading India to a series-clinching victory against Sri Lanka.

2009: Emerging Players Tournament

In 2009, Virat Kohli finished as the leading run-scorer in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia. In the final match, he scored 104 runs off 102 balls against the South Africa Emerging Players in Brisbane, helping his team to a 17-run victory and the tournament title. Kohli later stated that this tournament was a "turning point" in his career.

January 2010: Two ODI Centuries Before 22 and Leading Run-Scorer

In January 2010, Kohli played in the tri-nation ODI tournament in Bangladesh and became the third Indian player to score two ODI centuries before turning 22. He emerged as the leading run-scorer of the series, accumulating 275 runs at an average of 91.66.

June 2010: Vice-Captain Appointment

In June 2010, Kohli was appointed as vice-captain for the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, marking his initial foray into leadership on an international level. He also made his International T20 debut against Zimbabwe at Harare, where he scored an unbeaten 26.

2010: Vice-Captaincy and Playoff Appearance

During the 2010 season, Kohli was the vice-captain for RCB. He scored 58 runs against the Deccan Chargers and guided his team to the semis. RCB lost in the semi-final against Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

2010: Man of the Match and Solidifying Position in ODI Team

In 2010, Kohli scored a century against Australia, earning him the Man of the Match award. During the home ODI series against New Zealand, Kohli scored another match-winning century, marking his fourth ODI hundred and second in succession. He ended the year as India's leading run-scorer in ODIs, with 995 runs from 25 matches at an average of 47.38.

January 2011: Leading Run Scorer in South Africa Tour and World Cup Squad Selection

In January 2011, Kohli was India's leading run-scorer in the five-match ODI series in the South African tour, with 193 runs including two fifties. During the series, he jumped to number two spot on the ICC Rankings for men's ODI batters, and was named in India's 15-man squad for the World Cup.

July 2011: Test Debut and Series Win

In July 2011, Kohli made his Test debut at Kingston during India's tour of the West Indies. Although India won the series 1–0, Kohli struggled, amassing only 76 runs from five innings.

October 2011: Leading Run Scorer in ODI Series Against England

In October 2011, Kohli led the scoring charts in the five-match home ODI series against England, which India won 5–0. He amassed 270 runs across 5 matches at an average of 90, including an unbeaten knock of 112 from 98 balls at Delhi. Owing to his ODI success, Kohli was included in the Test squad to face the West Indies in November.

Dec 2011: Maiden Test Century Amidst Series Whitewash

In December 2011, during India's tour of Australia, Kohli scored his maiden Test century in the fourth and final match at Adelaide, scoring 116 runs in the first innings. Despite India suffering a 0–4 whitewash, Kohli was India's top run-scorer in the series.

2011: ODI World Cup Win

In 2011, Virat Kohli was a key member of the team that won the ODI World Cup.

2011: Player Retention and Orange Cap

Prior to the 2011 season of the IPL, Kohli was retained by Bangalore for US$1.8 million. He was awarded player of the match and became the leading run-scorer of the season, wearing the orange cap, and surpassing 1000 IPL runs.

2012: Interim Captaincy

Halfway into the 2012 season, Daniel Vettori stepped down as the captain, and Kohli was handed the role for the rest of the matches.

2013: Full-Time Captaincy

After Vettori's retirement, Kohli became the full-time captain for RCB starting from the 2013 season.

2013: Tendulkar's retirement and Kohli's potential

In 2013, Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket. During the same year, Tendulkar proclaimed that Virat Kohli possesses the potential to surpass his record of 100 international centuries, acknowledging Kohli's batting aptitude and steadfastness of accumulating runs. Kohli played alongside Tendulkar in the team.

2013: Virat Kohli Foundation Founded

In 2013, Virat Kohli founded the "Virat Kohli Foundation" to support underprivileged children by collaborating with NGOs to raise awareness and support.

2013: Champions Trophy Win and ODI Ranking

In 2013, Virat Kohli was a key member of the team that won the Champions Trophy and was ranked number one in the ODI batting rankings.

2013: Endorsements valued at over ₹1 billion

In 2013, it was reported that Virat Kohli's endorsements were valued at over ₹1 billion (US$12 million).

2014: Player of the Tournament Award

In 2014, Kohli won the Player of the Tournament award in World Cups.

2014: Launch of fashion brand Wrogn and investment in Sport Convo

In 2014, Virat Kohli partnered with Anjana Reddy's Universal Sportsbiz to launch the fashion brand WROGN, specializing in men's casual wear clothing. Additionally, he became a shareholder and brand ambassador for the London-based social networking venture Sport Convo.

2014: Charity Auction with eBay and Save the Children India

In 2014, the Virat Kohli Foundation participated in a charity auction organized by eBay and Save the Children India, with the proceeds going to the education and healthcare of underprivileged children.

2014: Challenges during the 2014 season and rise in popularity

The 2014 season presented several challenges for the team. Despite the team's performance, Virat Kohli's popularity soared, making him the most-searched player on the internet during the tournament.

2015: T20I Ranking

In 2015, Virat Kohli achieved the number one rank in T20I.

2015: Investment in Chisel fitness centers and UAE Royals

In 2015, Virat Kohli invested ₹90 crore (US$11 million) towards establishing a chain of health clubs and fitness centers throughout India, named "Chisel". He also became a co-owner of the International Premier Tennis League franchise, UAE Royals, and the Bengaluru Yodhas franchise in the Pro Wrestling League.

2015: Playoff Appearance

In 2015, after key changes were made, Virat Kohli and the team reached the playoffs, but lost in qualifier two. Through the season, Kohli scored a total of 505 runs in 16 matches, achieving his third-highest run tally in a single season.

June 2016: "Celebrity Clasico" Charity Football Match

In June 2016, Virat Kohli led the All Hearts FC against the All Stars FC, captained by Ranbir Kapoor, in a charity football match called the "Celebrity Clasico" in Mumbai to raise funds for charitable causes.

2016: Player of the Tournament Award

In 2016, Kohli won the Player of the Tournament award in World Cups.

2016: Launch of Stepathlon Kids

In 2016, Virat Kohli joined forces with Stepathlon Lifestyle to launch Stepathlon Kids, an initiative aimed at encouraging young individuals to adopt healthy lifestyle habits.

2016: Partnership with Smile Foundation and Support for Swachh Bharat Mission

In 2016, the Virat Kohli Foundation partnered with the Smile Foundation to empower underprivileged children and young people. Kohli also supported the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) by participating in a cleaning initiative at Eden Gardens on Gandhi Jayanti of 2016.

2016: Dominant Performance in 2016

In the 2016 season, Virat Kohli scored 50s in three out of four matches, sharing three century partnerships with de Villiers. Though RCB fell short by 8 runs in the final, Kohli was the highest run-scorer of the tournament and won the orange cap as well as the title of most valuable player with 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08.

2017: Endorsement Deal with Puma

In 2017, Virat Kohli entered into an endorsement agreement with Puma that spanned over eight years and was estimated to be worth around ₹1.1 billion (US$13 million), making him the first Indian athlete to sign a brand endorsement contract valued at ₹100 crore with a brand.

2017: Charity Gala in London and Establishment of Athlete Development Programme

In 2017, Virat Kohli hosted a charity gala event in London to support Justice and Care, an organization combating human trafficking. In 2017, he also established the Athlete Development Programme (ADP) to support young athletes in areas like coaching, training, fitness, and nutrition.

2017: Test Mace Win

In 2017, Virat Kohli led India to its first of three consecutive Test mace wins.

2017: Launch of One8 and Nueva restaurant

In 2017, Virat Kohli partnered with Puma to launch his athletic lifestyle brand, One8, offering sport-related apparel, footwear, and accessories. He also established Nueva, a fine dining establishment in New Delhi, and launched the first outlet of One8 Commune, a chain of restaurant bars.

2017: Shoulder Injury and average performance in 2017

In the 2017 season, Virat Kohli faced a shoulder injury, sidelining him for the initial three fixtures of the tournament. The team had a poor tournament while he scored a total of 308 runs in 10 innings.

2018: Most Expensive Player

During the 2018 season, RCB retained Virat Kohli for ₹17 crore (US$2.0 million), making him the league's most expensive player at the time. Kohli surpassed 500 runs for a record fifth time, but RCB's poor bowling led to their elimination.

2018: Test Mace Win

In 2018, Virat Kohli led India to its second of three consecutive Test mace wins.

2018: Record for Scoring 1,000 ODI Runs

In 2018, Virat Kohli set a record by becoming the first player to score 1,000 ODI runs in 11 innings in a calendar year.

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.

2019: Test Mace Win

In 2019, Virat Kohli led India to its third consecutive Test mace win.

2019: Dipped Form

In the 2019 season, Virat Kohli's form dipped, and he struggled for consistency. RCB, heavily reliant on him, was eliminated.

2020: RCB in Playoffs 2020

During the 2020 season, RCB won five of the eight matches but fizzled out during the latter part. They qualified for the playoffs based on net run rate but didn't make it to the finals.

2020: Donations to COVID-19 Relief Funds and Support for Stray Animals

In 2020, Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma donated to the PM CARES Fund and the Maharashtra CM Relief Fund in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, through his support of Awaaz, Kohli seeks to provide comprehensive medical services, shelter, and sustenance to stray animals.

2020: Test Series Against England

In 2020, during the English cricket team's tour of India, Kohli scored 172 runs with 2 half-centuries in the 4-match Test series. He scored 62 in the second test at Chepauk.

April 2021: Brand Ambassador of Vivo

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

2021: Reaching Milestones and Stepping Down as T20 Captain

In 2021, the Indian cricket team toured England, and Kohli scored 249 runs. He became the fastest batter to score 23,000 runs in international cricket and scored his 10,000th run in first-class cricket. Following the 2021 T20 World Cup, he announced his decision to step down as the T20 captain.

2021: Playoffs and captaincy end

In the 2021 season, the team qualified for the playoffs but lost in the eliminator. Virat Kohli officially announced the end of his tenure as the captain of RCB.

2022: Surpassing Ricky Ponting's Record

During the tour of Bangladesh in 2022, Kohli scored his 44th ODI and 72nd century, surpassing Ricky Ponting's record of the second-most centuries scored across formats in international cricket.

2022: 5,000 ODI runs and 100 Test Matches

In 2022, Kohli scored 5,000 runs in India in ODIs during the West Indies tour of India. During the Sri Lankan tour of India, Kohli completed his hundredth Test match, becoming the 12th Indian cricketer to achieve this milestone.

2022: Scored 1,000 Runs in T20 World Cup

In 2022, Virat Kohli achieved the milestone of scoring 1,000 runs in the T20 World Cup, becoming the second player to reach this feat after Mahela Jayawardene.

2022: Investment in Digit and Blue Tribe

In 2022, Virat Kohli and his spouse invested in Digit, an insurance-based startup, and Blue Tribe, a startup that specializes in plant-based meat products.

2022: Asia Cup and T20 World Cup Performances

In 2022, at the Asia Cup, Kohli scored his maiden T20I century against Afghanistan, amassing 122 runs from 61 balls. During the T20 World Cup, he scored 82* and won the match for his team. He finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament, with 296 runs. Wisden deemed this particular innings as the acme of the tournament.

2022: Test Captaincy Resignation

In 2022, during the Indian cricket team's tour of South Africa, Kohli scored 161 runs in 4 innings. He stepped down as the Test captain after the 2–1 test series defeat against South Africa.

2022: Du Plessis takes over captaincy

In the 2022 season, Virat Kohli was retained for ₹15 crore (US$1.8 million). Faf Du Plessis took over the captaincy and the team made it to the playoffs again, but lost in the eliminator and qualifier 2.

January 2023: Most Marketable Cricketer

As of January 2023, Virat Kohli is widely regarded as the most marketable cricketer, with annual earnings estimated at ₹165 crore (equivalent to ₹175 crore or US$20 million).

March 2023: Century in Border Gavaskar Series and Milestone in 500th International Match

In March 2023, Kohli played in the 2023 Border Gavaskar series and scored a century in the final test at Ahmedabad. In July, he became the first player to register a 50+ score in his 500th international match, hitting his 29th Test century.

November 2023: Surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record

On 15 November 2023, Virat Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 49 ODI tons in the semifinal of the 2023 ODI World Cup, while also becoming the first player to score more than 700 runs in a single edition of the tournament.

2023: Partnership Record and Fastest to 13,000 ODI Runs

During the 2023 Asia Cup, Kohli achieved the milestone of being the fastest to score 13,000 ODI runs and formed an unbeaten 233-run partnership with KL Rahul, which is the highest in the tournament's history.

2023: Dominance in ODI World Cup

During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kohli scored multiple centuries and surpassed records, including scoring the most number of 1000 runs in a calendar year and scoring his 50th ODI century to surpass Sachin Tendulkar. He became the first batsman to hit 700 runs in a single World Cup edition. He also surpassed Ricky Ponting to become the third highest run-scorer in ODIs.

2023: Series of Centuries and Overtaking Mahela Jayawardene

In 2023, Kohli scored a century against Sri Lanka, followed by 166 not out in the third match. He became the fifth-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, surpassing Mahela Jayawardene. India won by a margin of 317 runs.

2023: Investment in Digit and Blue Tribe

In 2023, Virat Kohli and his spouse investment of ₹2.5 crore (equivalent to ₹2.9 crore or US$340,000 in 2023) in Digit.

2023: Grade D Contract

In December, Kohli was awarded a Grade D contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India which entitled him to receive ₹1.5 million (equivalent to ₹4.2 million or US$49,000 in 2023).

2023: Stand-in Captain and most centuries record

In the 2023 season, Virat Kohli assumed the role of a stand-in captain in the absence of du Plessis. His performances led him to clinch the record of most centuries in the league. RCB was eventually eliminated, and Kohli ended the season with 639 runs at an average of 53.2 and a strike rate of 140.

2024: Retirement from T20Is

After winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and winning the Player of the Match award in the final, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20Is.

2024: Co-owner of FC Goa

As of 2024, Virat Kohli co-owns Indian Super League club FC Goa. This venture serves as a future business opportunity after his retirement from cricket.

2024: Fastest to 27,000 International Runs

In 2024, Virat Kohli became the fastest player to score 27,000 runs in international cricket. He surpassed Tendulkar's record, achieving the feat in 594 innings during the Test against Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium.

2024: T20 World Cup

In 2024, Virat Kohli was a key member of the team that won the T20 World Cup.

2024: Century at Perth Stadium

In 2024, during the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Perth Stadium, Kohli scored his 81st century. This was his 7th test century in Australia, breaking Sachin Tendulkar's record of most Test centuries for India in Australia. This also became India's biggest victory in terms of runs in Australia.

2025: 51st ODI Century and Fastest to 14,000 Runs

During the 2025 Champion Trophy, Kohli scored his 51st ODI century against Pakistan and became the fastest to reach 14,000 runs, achieving this feat in his 287 innings which were 63 less than Sachin Tendulkar.

2025: Champions Trophy

In 2025, Virat Kohli was a key member of the team that won the Champions Trophy.

2025: Blueprint

In the 2025 season, RCB's comeback in the 2024 season, is referred to as the blueprint by Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming as well as Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Daniel Vettori and player Nitish Kumar Reddy after their teams had quite a poor 2025 season.