Virat Kohli's 17 Years Of Excellence - A Look At The Best Moments Of A Legendary Career

Virat Kohli [Source: AFP Media]

August 18, 2008 - A young Indian batter walked out for the first time in the Indian Blues at Dambulla in Sri Lanka. Seventeen years have passed since then, and that young man has risen to the level of a legend of the game and has etched his name in the history books as one of the best batters ever.

In his first match, Virat Kohli managed to score only 12 runs, but that innings marked the beginning of a chapter in Indian cricket that would bring revolution in different aspects. 

From that humble start to becoming one of the greatest batters in the history of the game, Kohli's career has been defined by moments of brilliance, heartbreak, triumph, and transformation. With nearly 28,000 runs under his belt and a legacy that transcends mere numbers, his story is one of relentless pursuit of excellence.

To give a tribute to such a decorated career, in this article, we will take a look at 17 years in Kohli's career that made him the King.

2008: The Nervous Debut

August 18, 2008 - After winning the U19 World Cup in 2007 as the captain, Virat Kohli made headlines with his performances and potential in the domestic arena. This got him the chance to make his debut for India at Dambulla's Rangiri International Stadium against Sri Lanka.

Virat Kohli For India in 2008 [Source: AFP Media]

The debut did not go as planned; Nuwan Kulasekara trapped him LBW for just 12 runs. India lost the match by eight wickets, but a future giant of the game had already taken his first steps.

2009: The First Glimpse of Greatness

December 24, 2009 - On the eve of Christmas, Kohli properly announced his arrival on the international stage with his maiden ODI century. This innings in itself was a foreshadowing of the temperament and attitude that would later define the man.

While chasing Sri Lanka's imposing 315, India were struggling at 23/2 when Kohli joined Gautam Gambhir in the middle. While the southpaw went on to score 150 runs, Kohli played an elegant knock of 107 runs off 114 deliveries. Their 224-run partnership ensured that India won the match convincingly by seven wickets. 

2010: The First Steps In Leadership

These were the first steps of Kohli, the leader in international cricket. He was appointed as the vice-captain for the tri-series in Zimbabwe.

During this year, Kohli became the then-fastest Indian to score 1000 runs in ODIs. His consistency throughout the year established him as one of the permanent members in the batting line-up. It also laid the foundations of the future Indian cricket skipper, who would redefine leadership in red-ball cricket.

2011: World Cup Glory and Iconic Words

April 2, 2011 - This was an iconic day in Indian cricket history and also in the career of Kohli. The 23-year-old youngster tasted World Cup cricket for the first time and ended up as a winner. 

Virat Kohli in 2011 World Cup Final [Source: AFP Media]

Notably, Kohli's 35 runs in the final were essential in India's chase of 275 runs as the team was struggling at 31/2 when he arrived in the middle. 

What made this win even more special were the words of Kohli in the post-match interview. "Sachin Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him", Kohl said. Well, that night he did carry The God on his shoulders during the victory lap, but later carried the burden of the nation for more than a decade.

2012: Birth of the Chase Master

February 28, 2012 - Cricket will remember Virat Kohli as one of the best chasers. The Bellerive Oval in Hobart witnessed the birth of the future chase master via one of the greatest ODI innings ever played.

Virat Kohli in Hobart [Source: AFP Media]

In the match against Sri Lanka, India needed to chase down 321 runs under 40 overs to stay alive in the CB Series. The way Kohli stood upto the challenge was extraordinary. He scored 133 runs off just 86 deliveries, hitting 16 fours and two sixes. Kohli emerged as the prime architect of India's win in just 36.4 overs and qualified for the final of the series.

2013: Captain's Knock and Champions Trophy

2013 saw that captain Kohli would be one of those who would lead the team from the front. He scored his first international century this year against the West Indies while playing the role of captain.

Notably, Kohli also played a significant role in India's Champions Trophy win in England this year. His 43 off 34 in the rain-affected final on a difficult track was the reason that India were able to put a fighting total on the board. 

2014: Rock Bottom and Redemption

The 2014 England tour turned out to be the darkest hour in Kohli's career. In the five-match series, he averaged only 13.4 and looked clueless against the moving delivery. James Anderson particularly troubled him with his art.

But Kohli, being the fighter he is, redeemed himself in the same year. During the high-stakes series against Australia later that year, he scored centuries in both innings of his first match as the Test captain in Adelaide. Though India lost the game by 48 runs, Kohli declared his arrival as a leader who would lead by example under pressure.

2015: Captaincy Burden and World Cup Heartbreak

The year began with Kohli taking over as full-time Test captain following MS Dhoni's retirement from the format. Howver, the World Cup semi-final defeat against Australia brough heartbreak for Kohli. He started the tournament with a brilliant hundred against Pakistan, but his campaign ended with just 1 against Australia as the eventual champions crushed India's dreams.

2016: The Golden Year

2016 was the year that saw Kohli's ascent to the league of legends. The batter Kohli was on fire during the whole year, and no one had a clue about how to stop him. His T20 World Cup knock of 82* off 51 balls against Australia in Mohali took India to the finals, and it is still considered to be one of the best knocks in the nation's T20I history.

Virat Kohli in IPL 2016 [Source: AFP Media

The art of batting was taken to new heights by Kohli during IPL 2016. He shattered records, scoring 973 runs in the edition - a feat that remains unmatched. His consistency and hunger for runs during the year established him as the premier batter across all three formats.

2017: The Australian Feud

2017 will be remembered as the year when the world saw Kohli's passion as the captain of the Indian team. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli unleashed his ultra-aggressive mode and gave the Aussies a taste of their own medicine.

His leadership drove India to a 2-1 win in the series, but it was the on-field demeanour of the aggressive Kohli that became the highlight.

2018: Historic Triumph in Australia

This was the year when Kohli scaled the ultimate peak as Test captain. He led India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia, a feat that had eluded them for 71 years.

He showed the true meaning of leading from the front. The batter Kohli scored centuries in Perth and Adelaide, helping India achieve the impossible. This victory brought him into discussions of being the Greatest Test captain India ever had and silenced his critics.

2019: Statistical Peak

Virat Kohli, the Test batter, reached the heights of his abilities in 2019. His highest Test score of 254* against South Africa in Pune was a masterclass in run accumulation, showcasing his temperament and the technical perfection he was nearing.

However, the Kohli-dominance was not only in Tests. His brilliance continued across formats, though the World Cup semi-final loss to New Zealand was one of the major heartbreaks for Kohli, the captain. 

2020-2021: The Beginning of Struggles

These two years saw Kohli's biggest struggles as a batter. The man who made century scoring look routine faced the longest drought of three-figure scores during this period.

Kohli looked in perfect control over everything a couple of years earlier, but during this phase, he appeared helpless as a batter. Nothing worked for him, and despite his batting skills, the results were not there to be displayed.

2022: Emotional Drought Breaker

September 8, 2022 - Kohli finally broke his drought of international centuries with a magnificent 122* off 61 balls against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup (T20). It took him 1,021 days for him to achieve a feat which was routine for him a few years back.

October 23, 2022 - If you are talking about Virat Kohli's career and do not mention the Super human knock he played against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022, then is would be unjustifiable. In a chase of 160 runs, India were struggling and looked out of the game at 31/4. However, the best of Kohli came out under pressure. He scored 82* off 53 deliveries and remained there till the end taking India to a memorable win against their arch-rivals.

2023: Record-Breaking World Cup

The ODI World Cup at home turned out to be a dream tournament for the man. He scored 765 runs in the tournament at an average of 95.62 and showed his true class.

Virat Kohli after his 50th ODI Century [Source: AFP Media]

In the semi-final of the tournament, Kohli scored his 50th ODI century versus New Zealand and surpassed Sachin Tendulkar. The bow to his idol in the stands captured the respect and humility that defined his greatest achievement.

2024: Perfect T20I Farewell

Throughout his career, Kohli was known for his consistency, especially in multi-team tournaments. However, the T20 World Cup 2024 saw the man struggling throughout the journey.

But he stood up when India needed him the most. In the final of the tournament, Kohli scored 76 runs off 59 deliveries and set up the stage for the team to end their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought. After the memorable win came a heartbreaking moment for the Kohli fans as he announced that it was his last T20 game in India colours.

2025: End Of 18 Years Wait, Champions Trophy Win And Test Cricket Farewell

2025 has been a year of contrasting emotions for the man and his fans. It started with the brilliant Champions Trophy victory. Then Kohli went on to win his maiden IPL title with RCB, ending his 18-year wait for the moment. The emotional scenes during the final were a testament to what the title win meant for him.

However, after a disappointing outing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kohli bid adieu to the purest format of the game. 

But the legacy of Kohli still goes on in the ODI format. Cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see him back on the field and more jewels to his already decorated crown.

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