 2008–2009: Debut and maiden stint

 In August 2008, Kohli was included in the ODl squad for the tour of Sri Lanka and
the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Prior to the Sri Lankan tour, Kohli had limited experience,
with only eight List A matches under his belt.[45] So, his selection was considered a "surprise call-
up".[46] During the Sri Lankan tour, as both first-choice openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender
Sehwag, were unable to play due to injury, Kohli was required to fill the role of makeshift opener
throughout the series.[47] On August 18, 2008, Kohli made his international debut at the age of 19
in the first ODI of the tour, where he was dismissed for 12 runs, caught dead in front by an
incutter from Nuwan Kulasekara.[48] However, in the fourth match of the series, Kohli scored his
inaugural half century in the ODl format, with a total of fifty-four runs scored. [49]

 Following the postponement of the Champions Trophy to 2009, Kohli was picked as a
replacement for the injured Shikhar Dhawan in the India A squad for the unofficial Tests
against Australia A in September 2008.[50] Despite limited opportunities, he managed to make an
impact in the single innings that he participated in, scoring 49 runs. [51] In October 2008, Kohli
participated in a four-day tour match against Australia as part of the Indian Board President's XI
team. The match featured a formidable Australian bowling line-up that consisted of Brett
Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza. Despite this, Kohli displayed
his batting prowess by scoring 105 runs in the first innings and an unbeaten 16 runs in the
second innings, demonstrating his ability to perform against high-level international competition.
[52]

 In November 2008, Kohli was selected for inclusion in the squad for the home ODI series against
England. However, he was not given an opportunity to play in any of the matches. [53] In December
2008, Kohli was awarded a Grade D contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as
part of the annual contract list for the Indian national team which entitled him to receive ₹1.5
million (equivalent to ₹4.2 million or US$52,000 in 2023).[54] Despite being awarded a contract, in
January, Kohli was dropped for the five-match ODl series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.[55]

 In July–August 2009, Kohli was selected in the four-team Emerging Players Tournament, held in
Australia. He was selected to open the innings for the Indian Emerging Players team in the
tournament, and he went on to have a standout performance. Kohli finished as the tournament's
leading run-scorer, with a total of 398 runs from seven matches, at an average of 66.33. He was
particularly impressive in the final match, where he scored 104 runs off 102 balls against the
South Africa Emerging Players team in Brisbane. His strong performance helped lead his team to
a 17-run victory and the tournament title.[56][57] At the conclusion of the tournament, Kris
Srikkanth, the chairman of the Indian national selection committee, expressed his admiration for
Kohli's performance during the tournament. [58] Kohli later stated that this tournament was a
"turning point" in his career.[59]

 In August 2009, Kohli returned to the national team after recovering from a minor shoulder
injury, replacing the injured Gautam Gambhir in the Indian squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka.
[60]
He was also utilized as a middle order batsman in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy due to an
injury sustained by Yuvraj Singh.[61] In December of that year, he was included in the team
 for home ODI series against Sri Lanka and scored 27 and 54 in the first two ODIs before making
way for Yuvraj, who regained fitness for the third ODI. [62] However, due to the reoccurrence of a
finger injury, Yuvraj was ruled out indefinitely, which led to Kohli's return to the team in the
fourth ODI at Kolkata.[63] In that match, Kohli scored his maiden ODI century–107 off 114 balls–
while sharing a 224-run partnership for the third wicket with Gambhir. As a result of this
performance, India won by seven wickets and sealed the series 3–1. [64][b]


 ndia Under-19
 In July 2006, Kohli was selected in the India Under-19 squad on its tour of England. He averaged
105 in the three-match ODI series against England Under-19s,[34] while also averaging 49 in the
three-match Test series.[35] Following India Under-19's success in both the ODI and Test series,
the team's coach Lalchand Rajput noted Kohli's adeptness in facing
both pace and spin bowling and expressed his admiration for profound technical prowess. [36] In
September, the India Under-19 team toured Pakistan. In the first Test match, Kohli scored 63 and
28 as India won by 271 runs against Pakistan Under-19s. In the second match, he contributed 83
runs to India's victory by 240 runs and an innings. He concluded the tour with 80 runs in the final
ODI game at Lahore.[37] In early 2007, Kohli was a part of the India Under-19 team that toured
New Zealand, where he scored 113 in the first Test match. The series ended in a draw, with a 1–1
score line. In the following month, the team travelled to Malaysia for a tri-series against England
Under-19s and Sri Lanka Under-19s, where Kohli did not get many opportunities to bat. In July–
August, India Under-19 embarked on a tour for a tri-series against Sri Lanka Under-19s
and Bangladesh Under-19s, where he did not score a half-century in any of the matches.
However, he made a comeback with scores of 144 and an unbeaten 94 in the following Test
series.[38]

 In February–March 2008, Kohli assumed the captaincy of the Indian squad that went on to
triumph at the 2008 Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in Malaysia. He demonstrated his
competence as a batsman, amassing 235 runs in 6 games at an average of 47, ranking as the
tournament's third-highest scorer and one of three cricketers to compile a century. [39] His century,
a knock of 100 runs off 74 balls, versus the West Indies Under-19s in a group stage encounter,
was lauded by ESPNcricinfo, as "the innings of the tournament." This innings paved the way for
India's 50-run triumph and fetched Kohli the man of the match award.[40] Additionally, Kohli's all-
round performance in the semi-final against New Zealand Under-19s, where he captured
2 wickets and contributed 43 runs in the run-chase, was significant to India's 3-wicket victory.
[41]
In the championship match, Kohli managed a modest score of 19 against South Africa Under-
19s, his contribution lead to India's eventual 12-run win (via D/L method).[42]

 In June of the year 2008, Kohli and his Under-19 teammates Pradeep Sangwan and Tanmay
Srivastava were awarded the Border-Gavaskar scholarship. This scholarship, aimed at honing the
skills of the chosen cricketers, provided an opportunity to train for six weeks at Cricket Australia's
Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.[43] In a bid to identify potential talent for the senior team, Kohli
was selected to represent India Emerging Players in the Emerging Players Tournament of 2008.
 Notably, his finest performance in the tournament was against New Zealand Emerging Players,
where he played a knock of 120 runs, leading India to a seven-wicket victory. With an aggregate
of 204 runs, Kohli's performances did not go unnoticed by the national selectors who were
observing his progress. He began his international cricket journey by joining the senior team
in Colombo, having played 28 Under-19 ODIs and 12 Under-19 Tests. [44]

 Delhi

 Kohli's junior cricket career kicked off in October 2002 at the Luhnu cricket ground in a match
against the host state of Himachal Pradesh. In his debut match, Kohli managed to score a total of
fifteen runs. His first half-century in national cricket came at Ferozeshah Kotla, where he scored
70 runs against Haryana.[18] By the end of the season, Kohli had amassed a total of 172 runs,
emerging as the highest run-scorer for his side with an average of 34.40.[19] During the 2003–04
season, Kohli was appointed as the captain of the Under-15 team. In his first match of the
season, he scored 54 runs in Delhi's victory over Himachal Pradesh. In the next fixture
against Jammu and Kashmir, Kohli scored his maiden century with a score of 119 in a BCCI-
conducted game. By the end of the season, he had amassed a total of 390 runs at an average of
78, which included two centuries.[20][21] Towards the end of 2004, Kohli earned selection for the
2004–05 Vijay Merchant Trophy with the Delhi Under-17 team. In the four matches that he
played, Kohli accumulated a total of 470 runs, with his highest score being 251* runs. The team's
coach, Ajit Chaudhary, lauded his performance and was particularly impressed with his
temperament on the field.[22][23] Kohli commenced the 2005–06 season with a score of 227
against Punjab. Following their victory over Uttar Pradesh in the quarter-finals, Delhi was
scheduled to play against Baroda in the semi-finals. The team had high expectations from Kohli,
who had promised his coach to finish the job. True to his word, Kohli went on to score 228 runs,
leading Delhi to victory. The team later secured the tournament with a five-wicket win
over Mumbai, where he contributed with a half-century in the first innings.[24] He ended as the
highest run-scorer with a total of 757 runs from 7 matches, averaging 84.11. [25]

 On 18 February 2006, Kohli made his debut in List A cricket, playing against Services in the Ranji
One-Day Trophy, but he did not have the opportunity to bat during the match. [26] In 2006, Kohli
had garnered enough attention to earn a spot in the state senior team. Subsequently, he made
his first-class debut on 23 November 2006, during the opening match of the Ranji Trophy season
against Tamil Nadu. However, his debut innings was a brief one, as he was dismissed after
scoring ten runs.[27] In a sequence of three matches, Kohli failed to score a fifty, leading his
coaches to provide him with counselling. In the subsequent match against former
champions, Karnataka, Delhi found themselves trailing with a score of 130/5, with Kohli
remaining unbeaten on 40 at the end of the day's play. That very night, Kohli's father passed
away at 3:54 a.m. Despite the heart-wrenching news, Kohli returned to the match and continued
to bat and scored 90 runs before he was dismissed. [28] The team's coach, Chetan Chauhan was
impressed by Kohli's resolute determination and unwavering attitude in the face of
adversity. Venkatesh Prasad also lauded his crucial knock, which was executed in the midst of an
emotional upheaval.[29] Following his dismissal, Kohli attended his father's funeral. His innings,
however, proved to be crucial for Delhi as they were able to avoid the follow-on. The team's
 captain, Mithun Manhas, praised Kohli for his performance, acknowledging its pivotal role in the
team's success.[29]

 Kohli's foray into T20 cricket took place in April 2007, during the Inter-State T20 Championship,
where he emerged as the top run-getter for his team with a tally of 179 runs at an average of
35.80.[30] In September 2008, Kohli played in Nissar Trophy against SNGPL (reigning champions of
the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy from Pakistan). He emerged as the leading scorer for Delhi in both
innings, registering 52 runs in the first innings and a towering 197 in the second. The match
ultimately ended in a draw, SNGPL being declared the victors due to their lead in first innings.
[31]
In the 2009–10 Ranji Trophy season, Kohli returned to domestic cricket. During a match
against Maharastra, he opened the batting and scored 67 runs, helping Delhi to secure the bonus
point required for victory.[32] Kohli's performance reinvigorated the competitive spirit of the
domestic cricket circuit. Ashish Nehra observed his growth over time and shared his thoughts: [33]

 I did not see him waste his time. If not on the field, he would be busy in the gym. I saw him first
as a chubby-cheeked bubbly young kid who grew into a perfect athlete. His junior cricket lessons
have obviously helped him. I did not know him well, but had heard a lot about his exploits in
junior cricket.

 Virat Kohli was born on 5 November 1988 in Delhi into a Punjabi Hindu family. His
father, Prem Nath Kohli, worked as a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli,
served as a housewife. He has an older brother, Vikas, and an older sister, Bhawna.
[8] Kohli's formative years were spent in Uttam Nagar. He commenced his early
education at Vishal Bharti Public School.[9] According to his family, Kohli exhibited an
early affinity for cricket as a mere three-year-old. He would pick up a cricket bat,
display natural skill, and request his father to bowl to him.[10]

 In 1998, the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA) was created. On 30 May of that year,
Prem Kohli, who'd espoused his younger son's fervour for cricket, assisted nine-year-
old Kohli's aspirations and arranged for him to meet Rajkumar Sharma.[11] Upon the
suggestion of their neighbours, Kohli's father considered enrolling his son in a
professional cricket academy, as they believed that his cricketing abilities merited
more than just playing in gully cricket.[12] Despite his abilities, he faced the setback of
being unable to secure a place in the under-14 Delhi team, supposedly due to
extraneous factors. Prem Kohli reportedly received offers to relocate his son to
influential clubs, which would have ensured his selection, but he declined the
proposals. Kohli eventually found his way into the under-15 Delhi team.[13] He
received training at the academy while simultaneously participating in matches at
the Sumeet Dogra Academy located at Vasundhara Enclave.[14] In pursuit of
furthering his cricketing career, he transitioned to Saviour Convent School during his
ninth-grade education.[12]

 On 18 December 2006, Kohli experienced the loss of his father due to a cerebral attack.
[12][15] During his childhood, his father played a crucial role in supporting his cricket
 training. Kohli has credited his father as the one who drove him to practice every day.
He has expressed his feelings of missing his father's presence at times.[9]
[16] According to his mother, Kohli's demeanour shifted noticeably after his father's
death. He took cricket with newfound seriousness, prioritizing playing time and
dedicating himself fully to the sport.[12] Kohli's family resided in Meera
Bagh, Paschim Vihar until the year 2015, after which they relocated to Gurgaon.[17]

 Virat Kohli (Hindi pronunciation: [ʋɪˈɾɑːʈ ˈkoːɦli] ⓘ; born 5 November 1988) is an

Indian international cricketer and the former captain of the Indian national cricket
team. He is a right-handed batsman and an occasional medium-fast bowler. He
currently represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and Delhi in domestic
cricket. Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.[3] He holds
the record as the highest run-scorer in T20I and IPL, ranks third in ODI, and stands as
the fourth-highest in international cricket.[4] He also holds the record for scoring the
most centuries in ODI cricket and stands second in the list of most international
centuries scored. Kohli was a member of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket
World Cup, 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, and captained India to win the ICC Test
mace three consecutive times in 2017, 2018, and 2019.[5]

 In 2013, Kohli was ranked number one in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen. In 2015,
he achieved the summit of T20I rankings.[6] In 2018, he was ranked top Test batsman,
making him the only Indian cricketer to hold the number one spot in all three formats
of the game. He is the first player to score 20,000 runs in a decade. In 2020,
the International Cricket Council named him the male cricketer of the decade.[7]

 He has received many accolades for his performances in cricket. He won the ICC ODI
Player of the Year award four times in 2012, 2017, 2018, and 2023. He also won the Sir
Garfield Sobers Trophy, given to the ICC Cricketer of the Year, on two occasions, in
2017 and 2018 respectively. In 2018, he became the first player to win both ICC ODI
and Test Player of the Year awards in the same year. Also, he was named the Wisden
Leading Cricketer in the World for three consecutive years, from 2016 to 2018. At the
national level, Kohli was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2013, the Padma Shri in
2017, and India's highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna award, in 2018.

 In 2018, Time magazine included him on its list of the 100 most influential people in
the world. Kohli has been deemed one of the most commercially viable athletes, with
estimated earnings of ₹634 crore (US$79 million) in the year 2022.