Virat Kohli: Career, Records and Legacy
Virat Kohli is one of cricket's greatest modern batters with 80+ international centuries. Learn about his Test hundreds, ODI dominance, IPL captaincy, and career arc.
Virat Kohli is the defining batter of the 2010s and 2020s. With more than 80 international centuries across formats and over 27,000 international runs, he is widely considered the best chaser in cricket history and the standard-bearer of modern batsmanship.
Early career and Under-19 World Cup
Born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, Kohli led India to the Under-19 World Cup in 2008 in Malaysia, winning the title and announcing himself as a future leader. He made his ODI debut in 2008 and his Test debut in 2011. His early ODI career showed aggressive intent but inconsistency; his Test career began slowly.
Career statistics
| Format | Matches | Runs | Centuries | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 120+ | 9,230+ | 30 | 48.5+ |
| ODIs | 295+ | 13,900+ | 50 | 58.1+ |
| T20Is | 125+ | 4,100+ | 1 | 52.7+ |
The chase king
Kohli's ODI record while chasing is extraordinary. His average when batting second in ODIs exceeds 65 — one of the highest ever recorded. He has won India countless matches from difficult positions, combining technique with mental clarity under pressure. His 183 vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2012, chasing 330, is regarded as one of the greatest ODI innings ever.
Test cricket mastery
Between 2014 and 2019, Kohli dominated Test cricket globally. He scored centuries in Australia in 2014/15 (before being dropped) and then returned in 2018/19 to lead India to their first Test series win in Australia — as captain. His 2014 England tour began badly but ended with brilliant centuries at Southampton and Old Trafford.
IPL and RCB
Kohli captained Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL for over a decade. His 973 runs in IPL 2016 — including four centuries — remain the record for a single IPL season. Despite his individual brilliance, RCB did not win an IPL title under his captaincy. RCB won their maiden title in 2025 under captain Rajat Patidar — and Kohli, who had stepped back from the captaincy, was part of the squad. He remains deeply loyal to the franchise.
2023 ODI World Cup
Kohli won the Player of the Tournament award at the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil, scoring 765 runs including three centuries. He broke Tendulkar's record of 49 ODI centuries during the tournament, ending with 50. India were unbeaten until the final, where they lost to Australia.
T20 World Cup 2024
Kohli won his first T20 World Cup in June 2024 in the West Indies and USA. Despite limited scoring through the tournament, his 76 off 59 balls in the final against South Africa — when India needed runs quickly and wickets were falling — sealed the title. He retired from T20 internationals immediately after.
Frequently asked questions
How many international centuries has Virat Kohli scored?
Kohli retired with 85 international centuries (30 Test + 54 ODI + 1 T20I) — the second-highest international century tally of all time, behind only Sachin Tendulkar's 100.
What is Virat Kohli famous for?
Kohli is famous for his run chases, technical excellence, aggressive fitness standards, and consistency across all three formats of international cricket.
Has Virat Kohli won the Cricket World Cup?
Yes. Kohli won the T20 World Cup in 2024. India also won the U-19 World Cup under his captaincy in 2008.