Childhood and Education Journey of Virat Kohli in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Virat Kohli. A timeline of key moments.

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

November 1988: Birth in Delhi

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi into a Punjabi Hindu family.

November 1988: Virat Kohli's Birth

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988. He is an Indian international cricketer.

1998: Enrolment in Cricket Academy

In 1998, Virat Kohli's father arranged for him to meet Rajkumar Sharma and enrolled him in a professional cricket academy, the West Delhi Cricket Academy, upon the suggestion of their neighbours.

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.

December 2006: Death of Father

On December 18, 2006, Virat Kohli's father died due to a cerebral attack, which led to a noticeable shift in Kohli's demeanor and dedication to cricket.

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.

2012: Wearing Kara

Since 2012, Virat Kohli has been observed sporting a kara, a traditional bangle often worn for religious or spiritual purposes, on his right arm.

2013: Beginning of relationship with Anushka Sharma

In 2013, Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma started dating after meeting on the sets of an advertisement. Their popularity led to the masses giving them the moniker Virushka.

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.

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.

2015: Family Relocation

In 2015, Virat Kohli's family relocated from Meera Bagh, Paschim Vihar to Gurgaon.

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: 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.

December 2017: Marriage to Anushka Sharma

On 11 December 2017, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma got married in a ceremony held in Florence, Italy. Their union attracted significant media and public interest.

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: 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: Adoption of Vegetarian Diet

In 2018, Virat Kohli disclosed that he had made the decision to adopt a vegetarian diet in an effort to alleviate the symptoms of a cervical spine issue impacting his finger movements. He continues to consume dairy products and eggs.

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.

January 2021: Birth of First Child

On 11 January 2021, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma had their first child, a daughter.

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: 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.