Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time and the most commercially successful athlete in Indian sports history. Born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, India, to Prem Kohli, a criminal lawyer, and Saroj Kohli, a homemaker, he showed an early passion for cricket and joined the West Delhi Cricket Academy at age nine. His dedication to the sport was evident from a young age, and he famously returned to play a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi the day after his father passed away in 2006, scoring 90 runs in a display of remarkable determination.

Kohli’s international career began in 2008 when he led India to victory in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup as captain. He made his ODI debut later that year and quickly established himself as one of the most talented batsmen in world cricket. His Test debut came in 2011 against the West Indies, and he soon became a dominant force across all three formats of the game. Appointed as India’s Test captain in 2014 and full-time captain across all formats in 2017, Kohli transformed the Indian cricket team into one of the most aggressive and fitness-focused units in the world. Under his leadership, India reached the No. 1 ranking in Test cricket and achieved historic series victories overseas.

Kohli’s batting records are staggering. He has scored over 80 international centuries across formats, is the fastest player to reach 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 ODI runs, and holds the record for the most centuries in ODI run chases. His consistency in the Indian Premier League with Royal Challengers Bangalore has been equally impressive, where he is the all-time leading run scorer. The 2023 ODI World Cup saw him equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 ODI centuries, and the 2024 T20 World Cup victory with India added a crowning achievement to his already legendary career.

Beyond cricket, Kohli has built an extensive business empire. He is the co-owner of FC Goa in the Indian Super League, has invested in the fashion brand Wrogn, launched his own athleisure brand One8, and has equity stakes in several startups. His endorsement portfolio is one of the largest in global sports, with deals with Puma, Audi, MRF, Uber, and numerous other brands reportedly earning him over $30 million annually. Combined with his cricket earnings, business ventures, and investments, Kohli’s net worth is estimated at $122 million as of 2026, making him one of the wealthiest cricketers in history.