Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

Personal information
Full name	Virat Kohli
Born	5 November 1988 (age 23) Delhi, India
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm medium pace
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	India
Test debut (cap 268)	20 June 2011 v West Indies
Last Test	3 September 2012 v New Zealand
ODI debut (cap 175)	18 August 2008 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	31 July 2012 v Sri Lanka
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2006–present	Delhi
2008–present	Royal Challengers Bangalore
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	10	90	38	120
Runs scored	703	3,886	2,622	5,214
Batting average	41.35	51.81	50.42	51.62
100s/50s	2/5	13/21	8/11	17/28
Top score	116	183	197	183
Balls bowled	66	292	534	344
Wickets	0	2	3	2
Bowling average	–	138.00	96.33	162.50
5 wickets in innings	0	0	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	n/a	1/20	1/19	1/20
Catches/stumpings	14/–	49/–	37/–	64/–
Source: ESPNCricinfo, 3 September 2012

Virat Kohli  pronunciation (help·info) (born 5 November 1988 in Delhi) is an Indian international cricketer. He is a middle order batsman, who can also open the batting. He can also bowl right arm medium pace. Kohli was the captain of the victorious Indian team at the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup held in Malaysia. He represents Delhi in first-class cricket and plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. He also played for the West Delhi Cricket Academy. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2008 and was part of the Indian team which won the 2011 World Cup.
Despite being a regular in the ODI side, Kohli only played his first Test in 2011 against West Indies in Kingston. But on the disastrous 2011/12 India tour of Australia, in which India's senior batsmen struggled throughout, Kohli stood out, scoring his first Test hundred in Adelaide.Virat Kohli is currently regarded as one of India's potential number three batman in Tests, after the retirement of Rahul Dravid following the Australian tour.

Personal life

Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi to Prem and Saroj Kohli.^[5] He has an elder brother, Vikash, and an elder sister, Bhavna.^[6] Virat attended school at Vishal Bharti and Savier Convent. Virat's father, Prem, worked as a lawyer and died in December 2006.^[5] Little is known of Virat Kohli's personal life.^[7]

Youth cricket and early career

The West Delhi Cricket Academy was created in 1998 and Kohli was part of its first intake.^[7] Kohli first came into the spotlight when he played for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka on the day of his father's death. Choosing to stay and bat, he went on to score 90 runs. Mithun Manhas, the team's captain, remarked that "That is an act of great commitment to the team and his innings turned out to be crucial".^[8]
Kohli captained the victorious Indian team at the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup held in Malaysia.^[9] Batting at number 4, he scored 235 runs in 6 matches at an average of 47, including a century against the West Indies U-19s.^[10] He was also commended for making several tactical bowling changes during the tournament.^[11] His mother noted that "Virat changed a bit after that day. Overnight he became a much more matured person. He took every match seriously. He hated being on the bench. It's as if his life hinged totally on cricket after that day."^[5]
Kohli was instrumental in India's win of the 2009 Emerging Players Tournament in Australia. In the final against South Africa, Kohli scored a century and India went on to win the game by 17 runs. Kohli emerged as the leading run scorer of the tournament, aggregating 398 runs from seven matches including two centuries and two fifties.^[12]

Indian Premier League

2008

Kohli played for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the 2008 Indian Premier League.^[13] He was bought for $30,000 before the first season in 2008. He did not perform well, scoring only 165 runs in 13 innings at an average of 15 and taking only 2 wickets with his bowling.

2009

But he improved marginally in the second season, scoring 246 runs in 16 innings with an average of 22.36 and taking 9 catches and effecting 2 run outs.

2010

In the third season, he scored 307 runs, including two half centuries, in 13 innings at an average of 27.90. In the fourth season of the IPL, he was the only player that Royal Challengers Bangalore retained, preferred over the likes of Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ross Taylor.

2011

He was the 2nd highest run getter in the tournament behind Chris Gayle.^[14]

2012

The 2012 Indian Premier League followed in April and May and Kohli scored 364 runs fron 16 matches, with two half-centuries.^[15]

ODI specialist (2008–2011)

Following a hundred in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia in 2008, Kohli was selected in the ODI squad for India's tour of Sri Lanka.^[16] Kohli made his debut in One Day International against Sri Lanka in the Idea Cup in 2008 when both Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag were injured. He opened the batting in the first match, but was out for 12. But he made a crucial 37 in a low scoring second match in the series, which helped India win and level the series. He made his first half century, a score of 54, in the fourth match which helped India win the series. This was India's first one day series win against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. He was included in the squad for the home ODI series against England later that same year but was not given a chance to play,due to inclusion of Sachin and Sehwag in team. Kohli was then dropped from the squad for the five-match ODI series in Sri Lanka against Sri Lanka in January 2009.
Kohli played in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy after Yuvraj Singh was injured, and since mid-2009 has been the reserve ODI batsman. Yuvraj regained fitness for the home series against Australia, so Kohli only played in occasional matches in the series.
In the absence of the injured Yuvraj, Kohli got a chance to play in the 4th ODI when Sri Lanka toured India in December 2009. He scored his first ODI century, milking singles with Gautam Gambhir they shared a 224-run partnership for the third wicket as India won by seven wickets to seal the series 3–1.
Senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar was rested for the tri-nations tournament in Bangladesh in January 2010, so Kohli played in each of India's five matches. After making nine in the opening loss to Sri Lanka, he top-scored with 91 to help secure a win after India collapsed early in their run chase against Bangladesh on 7 January 2010. He then ended unbeaten on 71 to help win the match for India with a bonus point after they chased down their target quickly. The next day, he scored his second ODI century, against Bangladesh, bringing up the mark with the winning runs. He was much praised for his performances during the tournament, and became only the third Indian to score two ODI centuries before their 22nd birthday, following in the footsteps of Tendulkar and Suresh Raina.^[17] However, in the final against Sri Lanka he made only two as India collapsed to 5/60 and an eventual four-wicket defeat.
Kohli was named vice-captain of the ODI side for the Tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe in June 2010 as all the other first-choice players skipped the tournament. In the same series, he became the fastest Indian to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket.^[18] He was India's leading run-scorer in 2010, with 995 runs including three centuries from 25 matches at an average of 47.38.^[19]

2011 Cricket World Cup

Kohli was preferred over Raina for the 2011 World Cup and became the first Indian to score a century on World Cup debut. He also scored 59 against West Indies while sharing a 122-run patnership with Yuvraj Singh.^[20] His 83-run partnership for the third wicket with Gautam Gambhir was instrumental in India taking the upper hand during their run chase against Sri Lanka in the final.^[21] He made 282 runs in 9 innings at an average of 35.25.^[22] Between 1 January 2009 and 1 September 2011, Kohli was India's second highest run-scorer in ODIs with 1,994 runs at an average of 47.47.^[23]

Introduction to Tests (2011–2012)

When India toured the West Indies in June and July 2011, they chose a largely inexperienced squad, resting Tendulkar and others such as Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag missing out due to injuries. Kohli was one of three uncapped players in the Test squad.^[24] India won the Test series 1–0 but Kohli struggled on his debut in the format; he struggled with the short ball^[25] amassing just 76 runs from five innings.^[26] Particularly troublesome for Kohli was the fast bowling of Fidel Edwards, who dismissed him three times in the series.^[27] Initially dropped from the Test squad for India's four-match series against England in July and August, Kohli was recalled as cover for the injured Yuvraj Singh,^[28] though did not play in the series.^[29] He participated in the subsequent ODI series, scoring 194 runs from five innings including a century,^[30] although India lost the series 3–0.^[31] In October England faced India in a return ODI series in India. India won 5–0 and Kohli was the highest run-scorer on either side with 270 across five matches and a highest score of 112 not out.^[32][33]
In November and December 2011, the West Indies toured India for three Tests and five ODIs. Following his ODI success against England the previous month Kohli was included in the Test squad ahead of Raina. In competition with Yuvraj Singh for the number six position,^[34] it was not until the final match of the series that Kohli was selected in the team.^[29] The match ended in a draw, and having won the first two Tests took the series 2–0; Kohli scored a pair of fifties in the match, passing his previous highest score of 30.^[35] India won the subsequent ODI series 4–1 and Kohli managed 243 runs at an average of 60.75 with a highest score of 117.^[36]
Kohli was included in India's squad for the tour of Australia in December 2011. After the first Test he felt his position in the team was in jeopardy,^[37] and during the second Kohli was fined half of his match fee for swearing at fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground who were insulting him.^[38] In an interview after the incident, he remarked "Scoring eight hundreds in one-day internationals can't be a fluke. It's international cricket as well. I don't know why people have been questioning my technique or temperament so much. ... All of this is a learning curve for me. I am playing on difficult wickets, in Australia."^[37] Kohli top scored in each of India's innings in the third Test, with 44 and 75,^[39] and in the fourth and final match Kohli scored his maiden Test century of 116 runs in the second innings; it was the only century scored by an Indian in the series.^[40] India lost the series 4–0^[41] and Kohli was the top scorer for India in the same series.^[42]

New Zealand tour of India in 2012

Kohli made 212 runs in two test matches including one Century and two half Century with Average of 106.

• 2^nd test : Kohli Score his Second Test Century against New Zealand at Bangalore. He made 103 runs including 14 boundaries and one six in first Inning. in second Inning he made 51^* runs and awarded as Man of the Match.^[43]

ODI Carrer (2012-Present)

CB Series 2012

India remained in Australia for the triangular ODI series, that followed the Tests; it was contested by Australia, Sri Lanka, and India. Kohli was India's leading run-scorer in the series scoring 373 runs including two half centuries and a century – again, the only century scored by an Indian in the series.^[44] Though India did not progress to the final,^[45] victory against Sri Lanka in India's last match kept them in contention until the final fixture of the group stage. Chasing 321 to win, Kohli came to the crease with India's score at 86/2 and went on to score 133 not out from 86 balls to win with 13 overs to spare. He was named Man of the Match for his effort, which included scoring 24 runs from an over by Lasith Malinga.^[46]

2012 Asia Cup

He was named vice-captain of the ODI team for the 2012 Asia Cup in March.^[47]He scored 183 off 148 balls against Pakistan in the fifth match of Asia Cup 2012, recording the joint-fourth highest score by an Indian in ODIs. Coming in at 0/1, he struck 22 fours and a six to take India to a record chase of 330. This is his highest score in One Day internationals and the highest individual score in the Asia Cup. Kohli's innings was the highest individual innings for a batsman against Pakistan in a ODI surpassing previous record by Brian Lara (156).^[48][49]

Kohli achieved his career-best second spot in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen after conclusion of the India-Sri Lanka five-match ODI series in August 2012. ^[50]

International centuries

Test centuries

Virat Kohli's Test centuries
#	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Against	Venue	Year	Result
1	116	213	11	1	Australia	Adelaide Oval, Australia	2012	Australia won by 298 runs[51]
2	103	193	14	1	New Zealand	M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, India	2012	India won by 5 wickets

ODI centuries

Virat Kohli's ODI centuries
#	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Against	Venue	Year	Result
1	107	114	11	1	Sri Lanka	Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India	2009	India won by 7 wickets[52]
2	102*	95	11	0	Bangladesh	Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh	2010	India won by 6 wickets[53]
3	118	121	11	1	Australia	ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam, India	2010	India won by 5 wickets[54]
4	105	104	10	0	New Zealand	Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, India	2010	India won by 40 runs[55]
5	100*	83	8	2	Bangladesh	Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh	2011	India won by 87 runs[56]
6	107	93	9	1	England	SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	2011	England won by 6 wickets[57]
7	112*	98	16	0	England	Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, India	2011	India won by 8 wickets[58]
8	117	123	14	0	West Indies	ACA-VDCA Stadium, Vishakapatnam, India	2011	India won by 5 wickets[59]
9	133*	86	16	2	Sri Lanka	Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Australia	2012	India won by 7 wickets[60]
10	108	120	7	0	Sri Lanka	Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh	2012	India won by 50 runs[61]
11	183	148	22	1	Pakistan	Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, Bangladesh	2012	India won by 6 wickets[62]
12	106	113	9	0	Sri Lanka	Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota, Sri Lanka	2012	India won by 21 runs
13	128*	119	12	1	Sri Lanka	R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	2012	India won by 6 wickets

Batting Career Summary

Runs by Year

Year	Match	Run	AVG.	SR	HS	100	50	4s	6s
2011	34	1381	47.62	85.56	117	4	8	127	7
2010	25	995	47.38	85.11	118	3	7	90	4
2009	10	325	54.16	84.41	107	1	2	36	3
2008	5	159	31.80	66.52	54	0	1	21	1

Source: [2]

Century by Nation

	Sri Lanka	Australia	England	Bangladesh	West Indies	Pakistan	New Zealand	South Africa	Total
ODI	5	1	2	2	1	1	1		13
Test		1					1		2

Records & Achievements

• Fastest Indian Cricketer to reach 1000 runs in ODIs
• Fastest Indian Cricketer to reach 3000 runs in ODIs
• Kohli's 183 runs is highest score by any batsmen in ODI against Pakistan.
• Nominated for the ICC best ODI batsman of the year 2012