A True Legend: The Rise of Virat Kohli
Starting as a batsman to becoming a captain, Virat Kohli has had a long journey. He topped the charts as the leading runner in international cricket and has rolled many other records. What are the factors that shaped his evolution as a cricketer and a leader is one of the many questions that fans argue over. In this blog post, we will walk down memory lane to unveil this famous personality.
Childhood Years
Virat Kohli was born in a middle-class family, on 5th November 1988. He was fond of cricket from a very young age. He was enrolled into the West Delhi Cricket Academy, at the age of nine. From there, Virat embarked on a journey of success. Virat Kohli’s debut match was for Delhi Under- 15 team in 2002 where he scored 172 runs within the span of six matches.
Further, in 2006 he made his spot in the India Under-19 team. The team won the Under-19 World Cup hosted in Malaysia under his captaincy. He left a lasting impact with his polished batting skills and positive attitude on the field.
In 2006, Virat was hit by a personal tragedy when his father passed away. His father succumbed to a cardiac arrest. Even during such a personal crisis, Virat kept a brave face and played a match for Delhi on the day of his father’s funeral. Later, he addressed this by saying that his father’s death made him more determined to achieve his dreams.
The Big Bang
In 2008, just at 19 years, Virat Kohli’s international debut for the Indian team was all set. He scored 12 runs, on his first One Day International (ODI) played against Sri Lanka. He once again faced the same opponents in 2009 where he achieved his first ODI century.
Virat Kohli had his test debut in 2011 against one of the most powerful cricket teams, the West Indies. In the two innings served, he scored 4 and 15 runs each. He revised his techniques, and in 2012 he scored his first Test century. The match was against Australia.
He was then added to the Indian ODI team. His performance at the 2011 World Cup was commendable, he alone made 282 runs for the team, taking the Indian team closer to the World Cup.
The Golden Era
In the next coming years, Virat Kohli shot to fame. He was listed among the top batsmen in world cricket. He was scoring runs at a high pace. He scored 22 ODI centuries from 2012 to 2015 including four double centuries. He also hit seven Test centuries during this period, which included two double centuries. After MS Dhoni’s retirement in 2014, Virat Kohli was appointed as the new captain. He was known for displaying strong emotions on the field, but he always backed up his team by strongly defeating the opposite team.
Backlash
Virat Kohli started dating Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma in 2013. The couple was constantly under the media’s radar. The media gossip led them to face a lot of criticism from fans. Whenever Virat performed poorly in the matches, Anushka was blamed as the cause of his bad match. Virat’s game majorly dipped during India’s tour of England in 2014. However, the couple endured this scrutiny and became stronger. They got married in an intimate ceremony, in 2017. Virat Kohli’s daughter Vamika was born in 2021.
Virat Kohli’s legacy as a cricketer and a leader is still being written, as he continues to play with passion and excellence. He has won several awards for his immense contribution to the game. He is regarded as one of the most influential sports personalities in India.