Eighteen years after leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title, Virat Kohli turns 38 today as the highest century-scorer in ODI history, with 55 hundreds and more than 15,000 runs at an average of over 58.
Born in Delhi on November 5, 1988, Kohli first came into the spotlight when he captained India to victory at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia in 2008. The triumph proved to be a major stepping stone in his career, with the young batter earning a place in the senior Indian team later that year.
Kohli made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on August 18, 2008. Although he managed just 12 runs in his first international appearance, he gradually established himself in the Indian batting order, earning recognition for his technical ability, temperament and insatiable hunger for runs.
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His maiden ODI century came against Sri Lanka in December 2009, marking the beginning of a prolific run in the format. Initially competing for a place in a batting line-up featuring several established names, Kohli steadily emerged as one of India’s most dependable middle-order batters.
One of the defining features of his ODI career has been his ability to chase challenging targets. His innings of 183 against Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup remains one of the most memorable performances of his career. Chasing 330 in Dhaka, Kohli produced a commanding knock to guide India to a six-wicket victory.
The innings cemented his reputation as a specialist run-chaser, a role he would go on to make his own through several match-winning performances. His ability to pace an innings, rotate the strike and accelerate when required made him an indispensable part of India’s limited-overs set-up.
As his stature in international cricket grew, Kohli also took on leadership responsibilities. He was appointed India’s Test captain in 2014 before taking over as the full-time captain across formats. During his tenure, he placed a strong emphasis on fitness, discipline and an aggressive brand of cricket, while India recorded significant success, particularly in overseas conditions.
Although he stepped down as India’s captain in 2022, his influence as a senior batter remained undiminished. Kohli continued to be central to the team’s batting plans, adapting his approach while maintaining his reputation for consistency.
The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup marked another historic chapter in his career. Playing in front of home crowds, Kohli produced one of the finest individual campaigns in the tournament’s history, scoring 765 runs in 11 matches at an average of 95.62.
He registered three centuries and six half-centuries during the competition, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs scored in a single edition of the men’s ODI World Cup. His century against New Zealand in the semifinal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was particularly significant, as it took him to 50 ODI hundreds, making him the first batter to reach the landmark.
Kohli was subsequently named Player of the Tournament, further cementing his place among the greatest batters to have played the format.
His achievements continued in the years that followed. During the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Kohli scored a century against Pakistan and played a crucial role in India’s campaign, which culminated in the team lifting the trophy.
In 2026, he continued to add to his ODI legacy. He crossed the 15,000-run mark during India’s match against the West Indies in September, becoming only the second batter after Tendulkar to achieve the milestone. He also became the fastest to reach the landmark, accomplishing the feat in 315 innings.
According to ICC career statistics, Kohli has accumulated 15,109 ODI runs at an average of 58.79, including 55 centuries, making him the leading century-scorer in the history of the format.
His journey has also reflected a remarkable evolution in batting style. From an aggressive young batter who relied on instinct and attacking stroke play, Kohli developed into an accomplished accumulator capable of controlling the pace of an innings. His exceptional fitness, running between the wickets and ability to adapt to different match situations have remained defining features of his game.
