Virat Kohli Brought Purpose and Intensity to the Game and is Part of the Pantheon of Greats

On the morning of December 19, 2006, the air at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi was unnaturally still. Virat Kohli, just 18, was about to resume his innings in a Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka. The previous night, his father, Prem Kohli, had passed away suddenly due to a stroke. Most expected the young batsman to withdraw from the match.

Instead, he arrived at the ground quietly, padded up, and took guard as if driven by something deeper than duty. He resumed on 40 not out and went on to score 90 runs off 238 balls, including 16 boundaries. There were no extravagant shots, no celebrations – just a steely stillness. His partner, Punit Bisht, scored a century at the other end, but it was Virat’s innings that left the stadium in a hush. Karnataka’s players, including Robin Uthappa, watched with quiet respect. Kohli wasn’t just batting; he was honouring his father’s belief in him.

That belief had begun much earlier. When Virat was just three years old, his father noticed he gravitated toward a cricket bat more than toys. Recognising the early spark, Prem Kohli enrolled him at the West Delhi Cricket Academy at the age of nine.

Each day, before sunrise, he would drive Virat across town for practice, waiting patiently through long hours of training. He encouraged his natural aggression, and nurtured his focus. His father's unwavering support laid the foundation for everything Virat would later build upon.

Cricket became more than a sport in Kohli's life – it became a purpose.

Virat Kohli was born on November 5, 1988, in Uttam Nagar, West Delhi. He was the youngest of three siblings in a close-knit Punjabi household. His father, Prem, was a criminal lawyer, and his mother, Saroj Kohli, a homemaker. Despite the modest means of the family, they provided a stable, encouraging environment where Virat's love for cricket could grow unchecked.

From those early days of waking before dawn and returning home after nets, cricket became more than a sport – it became a purpose.

That innings after his father's death was a turning point.

I remember watching the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia live on television. As a passionate follower of the game, I couldn’t take my eyes off the young Indian captain, Virat Kohli, commanding the field with energy, clarity, and a spark that was unmistakable.

Ravindra Jadeja, his vice-captain, and Manish Pandey were part of that vibrant squad. There was something electric about Kohli even then – he wasn’t just leading, he was enjoying the game, inhabiting it fully. You could sense the joy, the fire, and the fierce intent coexisting in every move.

India won that final against South Africa, defending a modest target in a rain-shortened match. As the game ended, I knew I had seen something rare. Not a once-in-a-lifetime cricketer – that’s too easy a phrase. No, Virat Kohli was a generational force.

The talent was undeniable, but it was the attitude – the refusal to back down, the intensity with which he played every ball – that foretold the legacy he would build for India.

Kohli had always shown talent, but now there was something different. His focus became relentless.

Later that year, on August 18, 2008, he made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. In 2009, he scored his first ODI century against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, sharing a 224-run partnership with Gautam Gambhir.

But it was in 2012 that he truly announced himself on the global stage with a blistering 133 not out off 86 balls against Sri Lanka in Hobart. Chasing 320 in under 40 overs, Kohli tore into Lasith Malinga, including a memorable six over long-on off a near yorker. That innings redefined India’s approach to run-chases and positioned Kohli as their most dependable chaser.

In 2011, after India won the World Cup at Wankhede Stadium, Kohli and his teammates carried Sachin Tendulkar on their shoulders. Kohli remarked, “He’s carried the burden of the nation for 21 years; it’s time we carried him.” When Tendulkar retired in 2013, Kohli gifted him a red thread his father had once given him, a gesture that spoke of legacy and quiet emotion.

Reaching new heights

As his batting matured, so did his performances in Tests. In 2014, during the Adelaide Test against Australia, Kohli scored 115 and 141 in two innings, almost pulling off an improbable win. He followed it up with strong performances in South Africa and England, including a career-defining 149 at Edgbaston in 2018.

In limited-overs cricket, Kohli reached new heights. His 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup remains one of the most dominant innings in an India-Pakistan match. He scored runs in every format, against every opposition, in all conditions. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, his 82 not out against Australia in Mohali was a masterclass in chasing under pressure. His running between the wickets, shot selection, and control were unmatched.

And then there were the shots. The silken square cuts, the razor-straight drives screaming past the non-striker’s end, leaving umpires flinching for cover and bowlers trying to get a hand on the ball, only to wisely pull away. The power, the precision – it wasn’t just batting, it was authority through timing.

But perhaps my all-time favourite was that jaw-dropping six off James Anderson – a near-yorker, dismissed with a flick of the wrists over midwicket. Anderson, one of the game’s most respected pacers, turned and watched. His expression captured it all-shock, awe, admiration – all fused into a silent salute.

One of his most iconic moments came during the 2022 T20 World Cup against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India was in deep trouble, and Kohli played an innings for the ages – 82 not out, including two extraordinary sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over.

One of them, a straight punch off a good length ball at 150 km/h, left even experts stunned. Kohli later called it the best innings of his T20 career. A few of his shots, like the on-the-up cover drive against England in a World Cup game and his pick-up flick off the pads for six at Wankhede, drew praise again from Mumbai legends sitting in the commentators box.

As captain, Kohli brought a new level of intensity to the Indian team. He focused heavily on fitness and work ethic, raising the standards across the board. He backed fast bowlers, prioritised overseas wins, and wasn’t afraid to make bold selections. Under his leadership, India won their first Test series in Australia in 2018–19. He regularly employed five-bowler strategies, attacked with aggressive fields, and demanded professionalism from his teammates.

There were controversies too. Kohli’s passion sometimes overflowed. In 2017, during the Bangalore Test against Australia, Steve Smith was given out LBW and appeared to look toward the dressing room for DRS guidance – an action against the rules. Kohli reacted instantly, accusing Smith of cheating, and gestured furiously from mid-off. The crowd got involved, tensions rose, and Kohli’s post-match press conference made headlines.

Off the field, Kohli’s life took another meaningful turn when he met actor Anushka Sharma during a shampoo commercial shoot in 2013. They kept their relationship private, but it became clear that she was a stabilising influence in his life. After his dismal 2014 England tour, where he averaged 13.5, Kohli credited Anushka with helping him rebuild mentally.

In 2025, Kohli finally lifted the IPL trophy for Royal Challengers Bangalore after an 18-year wait. Wearing his iconic No. 18 jersey, he stood teary-eyed in the middle of the ground. In that moment of long-delayed triumph, he and Anushka embraced tightly. Both had tears flowing freely – of joy, of relief, of a journey completed together.

A career marked by records and resolve

Virat Kohli’s career is marked by records, but also by resolve.

From the teenager who batted the morning after his father’s death, to the man who carried the hopes of a billion fans, Kohli has lived the highs and lows of cricket in full public view. He has scored over 70 half centuries, dominated every format, and left a lasting imprint on Indian cricket’s culture.

Since the sixties, when I first fell in love with the game, cricket has offered us legends – Sobers, Benaud, Hanif Mohammad, Pataudi, Bedi, Chandrashekhar, Richards, Botham, Gavaskar, Kapil, Lara, Tendulkar. Each brought their own genius to the crease, leaving the game richer for it.

To that distinguished gallery, I would unhesitatingly add Virat Kohli. His fierce commitment, elegance under pressure, and unwavering hunger for excellence have shaped the modern era. Like the greats before him, He will inspire generations yet to come.

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