I always cherish commencing any biography with a remarkable incident showcasing the greatness of a human being. Today, I share a story about the cricket world’s revered figure, King Virat Kohli.
The incident unfolds during the 2019 World Cup, involving Australian cricketer Steve Smith. He faced severe criticism from the media, press, social platforms, and fans after being caught ball tampering. In a crucial match between India and Australia, as Virat passionately batted, Steve Smith fielded near the boundary. The echoes of fans labeling Smith as a “cheater” for his prior ball-tampering incident months ago reverberated.
Steve, visibly embarrassed and shamed, couldn’t do much in the face of the fans’ relentless taunts, acknowledging his past mistakes. Virat Kohli, amidst his own batting, noticed the unfolding scene and signaled to the fans to cease mocking and calling Smith a cheater. The fans immediately halted their actions.
Post-match, during the press conference, Virat extended an apology to Steve Smith on behalf of Indian fans. He acknowledged that the majority of those labeling Smith as a cheater were Indian and expressed remorse. Virat recognized Smith’s awareness of his mistakes, the subsequent punishment, and his resilient comeback through hard work and dedication. He believed that Smith deserved an apology from the Indian side.
This profound act of humanity by Virat Kohli did not go unnoticed. In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) honored him with the Spirit of Cricket Awards accolade for this heartwarming gesture during the Cricket World Cup. Virat exemplified the profound truth that true greatness originates from within the heart. His career serves as a worldwide inspiration, proving that one becomes great first within the heart before achieving greatness on the global stage.
Virat Kohli was born on 5th November 1988 in Meera Bagh, a neighborhood in Paschim Vihar, Delhi, into a Hindu Punjabi middle-class family. His father, late Prem Kohli, was a criminal lawyer, while his mother, Saroj Kohli, is a homemaker. Virat has three siblings, being the youngest. His brother’s name is Vikash Kohli, and his sister is named Bhawana Kohli.
Virat Kohli’s Education and Qualifications:
Virat completed his 12th grade. He studied at different schools. From the beginning until class 9, he attended Vishal Bharti Public School, located in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, near his home. For his 10th to 12th education, he enrolled in Saviour’s Convent School. Simultaneously, he received cricket training at the Sumet Dogra Academy and the West Delhi Cricket Academy. Both his school and cricket training center were close to his home.
Despite his love for cricket, he couldn’t complete his education after the 12th grade and fully dedicated himself to the world of cricket.
As a result, what Virat got, the Indian country got, and the entire sport got. Now, we can see him in the present time, and despite his age, he remains a top player in cricket history due to his dedication, focus, and fitness. At the age of 35, he still looks like he’s 25. Many players retire at this age, but King Kohli looks like he can play cricket for another five years or more from here.
Virat’s Early Age Passion for Cricket:
When Virat was just 3 years old, he picked up a piece of wood used for beating cloth belonging to his mother and started playing cricket with the kids in his area using that baton. When his father saw that, at this young age, he was making brilliant shots, his father suggested buying a proper bat for him. He did so, and admitted Virat Kohli to a cricket coaching center. This is just a small snippet about Virat Kohli; we’ll explore more interesting details about this person ahead.
Virat Kohli’s Entry into Domestic and International Cricket Teams:
Virat was first selected for the Delhi domestic team in the under-15 category. After that, in the year 2004, he was selected for the under-17 Delhi team for the Vijay Merchant Trophy. In this trophy, Virat emerged as the highest run-scorer. Finally, in 2006, he was selected for the under-19 Indian team, marking his first foreign tour.
In the international cricket arena, his debut match was against Sri Lanka on August 18, 2008, in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. His entry into T20 international cricket occurred in the year 2010, and his debut match was played against Zimbabwe. Finally, he was selected for his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies.
Virat Kohli’s Most Miserable and Saddest Day of Life:
In 2006, Virat was playing for his domestic team Delhi against Karnataka. The Delhi team was in a dire situation as they had lost 5 wickets for 105 runs, and Virat was batting on 40 runs. The day ended, and Virat had to continue batting the next day. In the nighttime, he received the saddest and heartbreaking news about his father’s passing due to a brain stroke. If anyone were in Virat’s position, they might have quit the cricket match to attend their father’s death event. However, Virat didn’t do that. He controlled his emotions and started thinking about his father’s dreams.
His father had wanted to see him become a cricketer and represent the nation. This dream wasn’t just Virat’s; it was also his father’s dream. So, he decided that if he left the match, he would be breaking his father’s dream. Virat called his mother and told her to postpone the death event to later in the evening or the next day. The following day, he went to the cricket ground, played a brilliant match-winning inning, and then went home for his father’s death incident. Virat fulfilled his father’s dream after his passing.
Though he was in tension for some days, this incident showcases how dedicated Virat is to his game. This level of commitment is a significant reason why Virat achieved the remarkable top position in the cricket world for the decade.
Virat’s Transformation:
In his childhood, his coach used to call him “Chiku,” and even after joining the Indian cricket team, his teammates continued with the nickname. It sounded amusing and referred to his chubby body. One day, after taking a bath, Virat Kohli looked at himself in the mirror and realized that his body lacked fitness. In that moment, he decided that with his current physique, he would never achieve what he truly desired in life.
He immediately began going to the gym, putting in hard work on his body, and following a proper diet routine. During this training period, he mentioned in an interview that he often felt extremely hungry at night due to having a light dinner. Despite the temptation to eat anything, he resisted every time, stayed disciplined, and continued training, shaping his body into that of a proper athlete.
After nine months of rigorous training and dietary discipline, he noticed significant changes in his performance. He felt much lighter than he did nine months prior. Virat emphasized that to achieve his goals, he had to let go of nonsensical habits like late-night sleep, indiscriminate eating, and drinking. He shared these insights in an interview.
Virat Kohli’s achievements:
Virat Kohli’s achievements are infinite, driven by his consistency and passion for winning matches at any cost. This has made him unstoppable for decades. In his early years, his first achievement was becoming the under-15 captain for Delhi. He then progressed to become the under-19 captain, leading his team to victory in the Under-19 World Cup.
During the 2023 World Cup, he achieved a remarkable feat by scoring 50 centuries in One Day Internationals, surpassing the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar. Virat also holds records for the most runs in ODIs, T20s, and Tests, as well as the fastest to reach 8000, 9000, and 10000 runs. In the T20 format, his incredible average score per match, exceeding 50, solidifies his position as the world’s number one batsman in this category. Playing only 291 matches and achieving 50 centuries is unparalleled, considering Sachin Tendulkar played over 400 matches for 49 centuries.
Virat has led the Indian team in ODI, Test, and T20 captaincy, winning several series for his country. He has been awarded the most ICC (International Cricket Council) trophies, a total of 9, surpassing any other single cricketer’s achievements. In every aspect of cricket and life, he stands ahead of everyone else. Additionally, he received the Arjuna Award in 2013 and the Padma Shri Award in 2017 from the Government of India, two of the most respectable awards and dreams for many. Despite these achievements, he has received numerous other awards.
Virat Kohli’s downfall in world cricket:
Virat Kohli’s downfall in world cricket occurred from December 2019 to July 2022, during which he did not score any centuries in 72 matches. Criticism on social media, television, and from fans became widespread, with many suggesting that Virat should leave the Indian cricket team and perhaps explore other avenues like dancing or emulating actors like Anil Kapoor. Some experts even advised him to quit the Indian team. However, Virat, being Virat, made a strong comeback.
He silenced his critics by consistently scoring back-to-back centuries, reclaiming his previous form. Virat continued to make runs, earning him the nickname “Run Machine.” The challenge for many batsmen lies in performing under pressure during chases, but Virat excelled in such situations. Teams that mocked him ended up witnessing his exceptional performances.
An example of this is the Australian team, which often mocked Virat Kohli. Despite this, Virat showcased his aggression and determination by scoring 5000 runs against them. The problem turned into an opportunity, and Virat emerged even stronger, solidifying his stature as a giant in the cricketing world.
