Get All Access for $5/mo

Happy Birthday Captain: #5 Interesting Facts About Virat Kohli The king of the Indian cricket team turns 32 and he is the perfect example of a great sportsman and leader

By Priyadarshini Patwa

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Facebook/ Virat Kohli

Some have a legacy and some who build one. Virat Kohli is among the latter who has established himself as the greatest cricketer of all time. This young gun from Delhi entered the International field and since then has been leaving an imprint. The king of the Indian cricket team turns 31 and he is the perfect example of a great sportsman and leader.

Around 12 years ago Kohli made his debut in the cricketing world. The poster boy of Indian cricket who has made us proud had his own set of difficulties to deal with. During Ranji Trophy he lost his dad but he didn't give up and just worked hard towards achieving his dreams.

Despite having ups and downs, he craved a way for himself and today is one of the best cricketers that the world has to offer. While you must love Virat and be his loyal followers, we bring some interesting facts about the man who is loved by millions in India.

Also Read: Virat Kohli: Playing In Bylanes of West Delhi To Becoming A Great Leader

Jersey 18

Virat lost his dad during a Ranji Trophy match when he has just begun, but he decided that the show must go on. The reason he has kept 18 as his jersey number is because he lost his dad on that date.

In his interview with American journalist Graham Bensinger talking about the tragedy, he said, "Falling and fighting back is part of sport and life, but the ability to come back made me realise that one incident had made me so strong."

Only Asian Captain to win tests in England, Australia and South Africa

Doesn't that truly make us proud? Under his captaincy, India has won several trophies and continues the streak. What MS Dhoni build he has worked towards carrying it forward in the best possible manner.

He has not just inspired other players in the team but is the true example of a team leader. He makes the best utilization of his mind and is the only Asian cricket team captain who has won test matches in England, South Africa, and Australia.

Scored 500 Runs In A Bilateral ODI Series

Well, don't be surprised to find his name in every record book. There might not be a record that this man hasn't broken to date. And his hunger for runs just keeps hitting new heights.

He became the first cricketer to score over 500 runs in a bilateral ODI series against South Africa in 2018. The talented player scored 558 in 6 matches and made India win the match.

An Admirer Of Sachin Tendulkar And Record Holder

Didn't we already tell you there is no record he hasn't made or broken? He is a great admirer of Sachin Tendulkar and wanted to be like him.

In one of his interviews, he had said, "I always wanted to be Sachin. I wanted to bat like him, so I tried to copy the shots he played and hit sixes the way he used to. He was the one player that always made me think: I want to bat like him," Virat Kohli had once said. Today, he is one of the most inspirational stories in Indian sports."

While Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of centuries in ODIs, Kohli is no far.

But let us tell you Virat holds a unique record when it comes to century in ODIs. Plus he is the only Indian skipper who scored a century in his debut World Cup match.

Never Been Auctioned in IPL

A player's game can be judged totally through the number of franchises he has played for in the IPL. Since 2008, he has been playing for Bangalore-based franchise. He is the only player to date who hasn't been auctioned. Since then the franchise has kept him intact.

Priyadarshini Patwa

Former Features Editor, Entrepreneur India

Priyadarshini Patwa is the Former Features Editors of Entrepreneur India and hosted an Instagram show every Friday named ‘Lighten Up’, about people from different walks of life and talk about their work and beyond. She handled the lifestyle, features, technology, entertainment segments and was also responsible for the Digital Covers. Previously she has worked with MensXP, a Times of India entity and Deccan Chronicle. 

News and Trends

Recur Club Announces Credit Offerings for Startups Beyond Series A and SMEs

In FY 24–25, the platform also plans to deploy an additional INR 2000 crores through its Recur Swift program for startups.

News and Trends

Indian Venture Ecosystem Poised for Global Ascent: Recovery, IPO Resurgence, and 'Building for Bharat' to Define 2025

India's GDP is poised to scale from USD 4 trillion to USD 8 trillion over the next decade and will offer a playground that is remarkable for both founders and venture capital (VC) firms, said Pranav Pai, Founding Partner and CIO at 3one4 Capital.

News and Trends

Uber Launches Moto Women in Bengaluru, Connecting Female Riders with Female Drivers

Uber Moto Women aims to ensure safety with real-time trip sharing, anonymised contact details, and RideCheck monitoring for irregularities. It also offers 24x7 priority support via Uber's Safety Helpline for women riders and drivers.

News and Trends

Talent, Digital Infra, Policy, and Startups Driving India's GCC Ecosystem

By leveraging its demographic dividend and evolving policies, India is uniquely positioned to become the preferred choice for global enterprises seeking scalability, resilience, and a future-ready operational base.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

News and Trends

Key Cybersecurity Trends to Track as Threats Evolve

India has lost INR 11,333 crore to cyber fraud in just the first nine months of 2024. Nevertheless, with increasing cyber threats and public awareness, companies are taking proactive steps to safeguard their networks and devices.