Long before he became a household name, Virat Kohli was just another wide-eyed schoolboy in New Delhi who proudly told his teachers that he would play for India one day. His educators from Vishal Bharti Public School recall his unwavering self-belief and how he often declared that he would be the next Sachin Tendulkar. Even as a student who enjoyed science and math, Virat Kohli’s heart clearly belonged to cricket and though he pursued the sport seriously, he still managed to maintain strong academic performance.
Those early proclamations about matching Sachin Tendulkar might have seemed ambitious at the time but Virat Kohli’s journey has since lived up to — and even surpassed — many of those dreams. The iconic cricketer, who has never hidden his admiration for iconic Sachin Tendulkar, famously broke the legend’s record for the most ODI centuries during the World Cup 2023. Reflecting on that milestone, Virat Kohli once remarked that while he viewed Sachin Tendulkar as the pinnacle of batting perfection, he never believed he could match him in greatness. The moment was deeply emotional for him as he recalled watching Sachin Tendulkar on TV as a young fan and receiving appreciation from his hero meant more than words could express.
Virat Kohli first caught national attention when he captained India to victory in the U-19 World Cup 2007, soon making his international debut. What followed was a remarkable transformation into one of the most prolific scorers of modern cricket. With nearly 27,600 runs to his name across all the formats, including 82 centuries and 143 half-centuries, he is widely regarded as one of the finest batters India has ever produced.
Throughout his illustrious career, Virat Kohli has contributed to some of the most memorable victories of India, including the ODI World Cup 2011, T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy wins in 2013 and 2025. Despite this treasure trove of international trophies, one major accolade continues to elude him, i.e., the IPL title. As the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the league’s inception in 2008, Virat Kohli is currently striving once more to lead his franchise to the playoffs in the 2025 edition of the tournament, still in search of that elusive championship.
From his days as a young boy with dreams bigger than his classroom to becoming a two-time World Cup winner and cricketing icon, Virat Kohli’s story remains a compelling testament to passion, perseverance and the power of belief.
