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There is something 'Virat' about Kohli that refuses to fade. Indian Cricket has its heroes, who have left an indelible mark on the sport. Right from Sunil Gavaskar’s stoicism to Sachin Tendulkar’s divine touch, we have seen it all. But Kohli’s story feels different. His story is not just about runs, records or centuries; it's about the raw emotions of a Delhi kid who once dreamed of ruling the world with his bat. His hunger to score big runs for the nation still burns bright and bats as a man possessed to achieve much beyond the realm of numbers.
The ‘veteran’ turns 37 today, but he still comes across as a new kid on the block wanting to make a mark. The intensity in his eyes, that trademark roar after a hundred, and the unflinching competitiveness, none of it has dulled with time. If anything, his fire has intensified. The angry young man of 2012 has turned into a composed craftsman in 2025, still looking at sculpting something special.
The legend was born in Delhi in November 1988. His journey from a promising U-19 captain to one of the most celebrated names in world cricket is nothing short of cinematic and motivating. Every setback, from the heartbreak of losing his father early to the century drought of 2020, when centuries eluded him, has added a new layer to his story. But the Delhiite in Kohli has never been one to hide behind silence. He wears every emotion, every failure, every triumph on his sleeve, and that’s what connects him to the millions who see a part of themselves in him.
In the age of retweets and reels, Kohli remains an old-school phenomenon. He trains like a man possessed, plays like a warrior on cricket's battlefield and celebrates like an innocent child. His 82 international hundreds may be there for the statisticians to scrutinise, but for the fans, it’s those little moments, the glove tap to the crowd, the nod after a tough chase, the look skyward, that stay forever etched in memory.
This birthday, the numbers will be mentioned again: the averages, the records, the captaincy milestones. But what truly defines Virat Kohli isn’t in those figures. It’s in the energy he brings to a cricket field, in the way he transforms pressure into performance, and in the quiet message his career keeps sending, that talent may start the story, but obsession finishes it.
Cricket has changed. India has changed. The game has more stars, more noise, and more distractions than ever before. Yet, when Kohli walks in to bat, time still seems to pause. The floodlights turn into spectators. The chatter fades. And for a few hours, it’s just bat, ball, and belief.
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