About Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli born 5 November 1988 is an Indian international cricketer and the former captain of the Indian national cricket team who plays as a right-handed batsman for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL and for Delhi in Indian domestic cricket. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Kohli holds the records for scoring most runs in T20 internationals and in the IPL. In 2020, the International Cricket Council named him the male cricketer of the decade. Kohli has also contributed to India's successes, including winning the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions trophy.
Born and raised in New Delhi, Kohli trained at the West Delhi Cricket Academy and started his youth career with the Delhi Under-15 team. He made his international debut in 2008 and quickly became a key player in the ODI team and later made his Test debut in 2011. In 2013, Kohli reached the number one spot in the ICC rankings for ODI batsmen for the first time. During 2014 T20 World Cup, he set a record for the most runs scored in the tournament. In 2018, he achieved yet another milestone, becoming the world's top-ranked Test batsman, making him the only Indian cricketer to hold the number one spot in all three formats of the game. His form continued in 2019, when he became the first player to score 20,000 international runs in a single decade. In 2021, Kohli made the decision to step down as the captain of the Indian national team for T20Is, following the T20 World Cup and in early 2022 he stepped down as the captain of the Test team as well.
Outside cricket
Personal life
Kohli with wife Anushka Sharma in their Mumbai reception
Kohli's romantic association with Bollywood actress Anushka
Sharma, which commenced in 2013, earned the duo the moniker of
"Virushka". During an
interview with Graham Bensinger, Kohli divulged that he had encountered Sharma
for the first time, when they were both were engaged in a promotional shoot for
Clear shampoo. Their union since then has attracted significant media
interest, with persistent rumours and speculations swirling around in the
press, as both parties remained reticent about publicly discussing the
relationship. On 11 December 2017, the couple exchanged nuptials in an intimate
ceremony held in Florence, Italy, becoming one of the most talked-about
celebrity couples in the country. On 11
January 2021, their union was blessed with the arrival of a daughter, marking a
new chapter in their lives. The couple named their firstborn child, a daughter,
Vamika. The child's name, Vamika, is derived from Sanskrit, meaning
"little goddess".
In 2018, Kohli disclosed that he had made the decision to adopt a vegetarian diet in an effort to alleviate the symptoms of a cervical spine issue caused by elevated levels of uric acid. This condition was impacting his finger movements, and thus, affecting his performance as a batsman. He made a conscious effort to abstain from consuming meat, as part of his regimen for maintaining optimal health. He has since clarified that his dietary choices do not align with a vegan lifestyle and he continues to consume dairy products. Kohli is widely recognized for his physical fitness and intense training regimen. He has been an advocate of leading a healthy lifestyle, which involves regular exercise and a nutritious diet. His hard work and discipline in this area have earned him the reputation of being one of the fittest cricketers in the world.
Kohli has acknowledged to harbour a belief in superstitions.
He has publicly avowed his reliance upon various lucky charms and rituals that
he feels serve to bring him good fortune on the cricket field. One such
tradition involves the donning of black wristbands, which he adheres to as a
talismanic tradition. Additionally, he is known to prefer a particular pair of
gloves, which he has consistently worn due to their supposed propensity to
bring him success. Furthermore, Kohli has been observed sporting a kara, a
traditional bangle often worn for religious or spiritual purposes, on his right
arm since 2012. In addition to the previously mentioned superstitions, Kohli
has also established the ritual of consistently donning white shoes on the
cricket field.
Kohli's corporeal canvas bears testament to his spiritual
and familial devotion, as well as to his love of sport and cultural
appreciation. Adorned with intricate and meaningful tattoos, Kohli's skin bears
an image of the revered Hindu deity Lord Shiva in the form of a meditation pose
on the holy mountain of Kailash, symbolizing his devotion to the deity. He also
has tattoos of the sacred syllable "Om" and the names of his parents,
Prem and Saroj. Additionally, Kohli sports a tribal emblem, a representation of
a serene monastery, a samurai warrior, the astrological symbol of the scorpion,
and his ODl and Test match cap numbers.
Commercial investments
Kohli at the opening ceremony of the Pro Kabaddi League in
June 2016
Kohli invested in Indian Super League club FC Goa, which he
co-owned as of 2014, reflects his ambition to support and cultivate the growth
of football in India. Beyond the realm of cricket, this venture served as a
future business opportunity for him, as he sought to diversify his portfolio
after retirement from the sport. In November 2014, Kohli partnered with Anjana
Reddy's Universal Sportsbiz (USPL) to launch the youth fashion brand WROGN. The
brand specialized in men's casual wear clothing and entered into collaborations
with prominent retail outlets such as Myntra and Shopper's Stop.[478]
Additionally, in late 2014, Kohli became a shareholder and brand ambassador for
the London-based social networking venture "Sport Convo". His
involvement aimed to promote and raise awareness of the platform, which was
focused on providing a space for sports fans to connect and engage with one
another.
In 2017, Kohli entered into a partnership with the German sportswear brand, Puma, to launch his athletic lifestyle brand, One8. This brand offers a range of sport-related apparel, footwear, and accessories designed for active individuals. That same year, Kohli also established Nueva, a fine dining establishment located in New Delhi. The restaurant features a South American-inspired decor accentuated with Native American artwork, providing a distinctive culinary setting. Kohli also established One8 Commune, a chain of restaurant-bars that offer a modern and sophisticated ambiance that appeals to a diverse age range. This marked his inaugural foray into the food and beverage industry. The first outlet of this restaurant was launched in 2017.
Philanthropy
Virat Kohli at charity dinner for Smile Foundation
In 2013, Kohli established the "Virat Kohli
Foundation" with a philanthropic objective to support underprivileged
children. The foundation collaborates with a selected group of NGOs to increase
awareness and gather support for various causes that are instrumental in
advancing their mission of promoting the welfare and well-being of these
children. In 2014, the foundation participated in a charity auction organized
by eBay and Save the Children India, the proceeds of which were directed
towards the education and healthcare of underprivileged children. Kohli is
dedicated to creating a brighter future for children by implementing
sports-based programs and providing them with necessary resources, leveraging
his connections and partnerships to uplift marginalized segments of society.
Kohli's foundation has organized several charity events to
raise funds for its causes, including football matches featuring prominent
Indian cricketers and Bollywood actors. The first such event was a celebrity
football match in collaboration with Abhishek Bachchan's charity foundation,
which drew significant media attention and was successful in raising funds. In
this match, Kohli captained the All Hearts FC against the All Stars FC, led by
Abhishek Bachchan. Another charity football match, dubbed the "Celebrity
Clasico", was held in June 2016 in Mumbai, with Kohli once again leading
the All Hearts FC against the All Stars FC, captained by Ranbir Kapoor. This
event was also a major success in generating funds for charitable causes.
In 2016, the Virat Kohli Foundation entered into a
partnership with Smile Foundation to promote the empowerment of underprivileged
children and young people. To kickstart this initiative, Kohli organized a
philanthropic dinner at Hyatt Regency in Mumbai, graced by the presence of
cricketing luminaries such as MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya
Rahane, and KL Rahul to support the cause of child and youth empowerment. To
advance the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), which aims at creating a
cleaner India, Kohli and the Indian cricket team, in collaboration with Anurag
Sharma, undertook a cleaning initiative at the Eden Gardens on the occasion of
Gandhi Jayanti of 2016.
Prior to a match against Sri Lanka in 2017 Champions Trophy, Kohli hosted a benevolent gala event in London in support of the Justice and Care organization. The ball was arranged with the objective of increasing both funds and awareness for the humanitarian cause championed by Justice and Care. The organization endeavors to combat the pernicious issues of human trafficking and contemporary slavery. In 2017, Kohli established the Athlete Development Programme (ADP) as a platform for nurturing and supporting aspiring young athletes. This initiative provides comprehensive guidance to these young athletes in areas such as coaching, training, fitness, competition, and nutrition, thereby fostering their growth and development. The program has proven beneficial to several young sports persons, including tennis player Swastika Ghosh and golfer Aadil Bedi.
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