Marking 18 years since his debut, this retrospective explores Virat Kohli's journey from a 19-year-old in Dambulla to becoming a defining figure of modern cricket, breaking records, winning major trophies, and transforming Indian cricket.
Bangladesh achieved a historic nine-wicket Test victory over top-ranked Australia in Darwin, driven by a domestic fast-bowling overhaul inspired by past leadership and Virat Kohli's 2019 remarks.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should be allowed to continue their ODI careers and target the 2027 World Cup if they maintain their fitness and performance levels.
Former India fielding coach T Dilip highlights Virat Kohli's non-negotiable intensity on the field, which contagiously raises teammates' standards, and reflects on his cherished moments with the team, including the 2024 T20 World Cup win in Barbados.
VVS Laxman praises Virat Kohli as an 'exemplary professional' and 'great role model' for his relentless commitment to high standards, citing his career consistency and records across formats.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary, gold medalist at the 2026 Commonwealth Games (51kg), credits former India cricket captain Virat Kohli with providing crucial support through his foundation, helping her stay focused during a career comeback.
Former Indian umpire Anil Chaudhary discusses Virat Kohli's on-field aggression, recalling a 2013 IPL altercation with Gautam Gambhir, while praising Kohli's passion and noting it never crosses into malice.
Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane, 38, expressed gratitude to fans for their overwhelming support following his retirement from international cricket. Tributes poured in from cricketing legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar, celebrating his decade-long career marked by quiet leadership and resilience, notably during India's 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia.
Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 36, discusses his acceptance of transitioning away from international cricket, crediting his family's support and his love for the game. He also highlights the IPL's role in developing fast bowlers and the vision of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri.
India's Shubman Gill regains the No. 1 spot in ICC ODI batting rankings, surpassing New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell who missed recent series, with Gill now leading at 801 rating points.
Former Pakistan captain Zaheer Abbas believes Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, despite concerns over their age, should be in India's 2027 ODI World Cup squad due to their skill, experience, and continued run-scoring ability.
India consistently uses T20I tours of Zimbabwe as a platform to debut emerging cricket talent, a tradition dating back to 2010 with players like Virat Kohli. The 2024 series saw new faces such as Abhishek Sharma, and the upcoming 2026 tour is expected to introduce more uncapped players.
Former India opener Abhinav Mukund announced his 15-man squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, including veteran Rohit Sharma but omitting Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill is now just one rating point behind the No. 1 spot in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer compared KL Rahul's talent and technical ability to Virat Kohli's, stating Rahul is "at par" but Kohli's elite mentality and consistency create the separation. Jaffer highlighted Rahul's underachievement despite immense skill.
England secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over India, their first since 2018, with Joe Root named Player of the Series and returning to the ICC ODI Batting Rankings top 10 at No. 8. Ben Duckett also climbed to joint-19th after a record-breaking knock at Lord's.
England's Jacob Bethell shared his "unforgettable" experience opening the batting with Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, describing intense nerves and an electric atmosphere. He also revealed Kohli's relaxed off-field demeanor, contrasting his competitive on-field persona.
PV Sindhu revealed a conversation with Virat Kohli helped her overcome a career-threatening toe ligament injury in 2025, inspiring her comeback. This culminated in her historic Japan Open women's singles title victory in July 2026, making her the first Indian shuttler to win the prestigious crown.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu credited a conversation with Virat Kohli for her comeback after a serious toe ligament injury in September 2025. Following rehabilitation, Sindhu won the Japan Open women's singles title on July 19, 2026, becoming the first Indian shuttler to achieve this feat.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly supported Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, asserting they cannot be dropped due to their credentials and fan base. His comments followed Rohit's century against England at Lord's, which quieted recent retirement speculation despite India's series loss.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stated that senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are "untouchable" in the national team due to their achievements and massive fan following, making it nearly impossible to drop them. He contrasted this with bowlers, who lack similar backing despite their contributions.
Rohit Sharma scored a century in India's loss to England at Lord's, reflecting on his 400-match, 8000-run ODI partnership with Virat Kohli, which is now second only to Tendulkar-Ganguly in century stands. He also discussed the team's need for collective improvement.
Rohit Sharma scored his 34th ODI century at Lord's against England, delivering a powerful response to widespread retirement speculation. The 39-year-old's 132-run innings, his first ODI ton at the iconic venue, came in a series decider where India ultimately lost the match and the bilateral series 1-2.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli formed their 21st century partnership in ODIs, becoming the second-most prolific pair in history during India's chase against England at Lord's. Rohit scored 138, becoming the oldest Indian to score an ODI century and the first at Lord's.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were seen training intensely at Edgbaston Cricket Ground ahead of the first ODI against England on July 14. Sharma focused on batting drills for nearly an hour, while Kohli faced sharp deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah and other bowlers.
