Virat Kohli Indian batting great and hero to hundreds of millions

NEW DELHI – Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished batters of his generation and is a hero to hundreds of millions of Indian cricket fans.

An inspiring leader and former captain, he retired from Test cricket on May 12 with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, scoring 30 centuries and 31 fifties.

The Indian great has played 123 matches since his Test debut in 2011. His highest score was 254 not out.

The 36-year-old Kohli was part of the “Fab Four” quartet of batters who dominated Test cricket over the past decade, alongside Steve Smith of Australia, Kane Williamson of New Zealand and Joe Root of England.

Nicknamed “King Kohli”, he was India’s batting backbone across three international formats and ended his Twenty20 career with a match-winning innings in the World Cup final victory in Barbados in 2024.

He then walked away from the shortest format along with captain Rohit Sharma who, like Kohli, is expected to continue playing 50-over cricket after retiring from Tests.

Kohli’s declining form in the five-day game may have been a factor in his decision to call it a day. After averaging close to 55 at his peak between 2011 and 2019, the figure dropped to 32.56 over the past 24 months.

“Virat never played for records. They happened as he progressed,” Kohli’s biographer Vijay Lokapally told AFP.

“His batting skills and work ethic combined to create magic.

“Longevity leads to milestones and that is what Virat has inherited from stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar.”

Kohli’s huge popularity among Indian and global cricket fans is reminiscent of that once enjoyed by his idol Tendulkar.

The No. 18 India jersey worn by Kohli is by far the most popular piece of merchandise worn around grounds across