Virat Kohli’s journey to becoming cricket’s biggest brand

Virat Kohli is arguably the finest batter to have played the game of cricket. He isn’t just a player; he is a phenomenon, someone who will inspire budding cricketers for years to come. Kohli made his international debut in 2008, and after almost two decades, he has established himself as a renowned name in world cricket.

The Delhi batter led India to the U-19 World Cup title in 2008, and cricket pundits back in the day had predicted that he was destined for greatness. Kohli has since played 123 Tests, 302 ODIs, and 125 T20Is, amassing 27,599 runs. He became the No. 1-ranked batter in the ICC rankings in all three formats. For a very long time in his career, he was averaging over 50.00 in all formats. Kohli is also the leading run-getter in the Indian Premier League (IPL), having aggregated 8661 runs from 267 matches at an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 132.86.

Kohli is also India’s most successful Test captain. Under his leadership, India became a force to be reckoned with in overseas conditions. He also backed his fast bowlers to take 20 wickets against the best batting sides in world cricket, and they delivered. The charismatic athlete also took India to the finals of the Champions Trophy in 2017 and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021.

He had to wait 18 seasons before winning his maiden IPL title. Kohli is the only player to have played all the seasons of the IPL for only one franchise—RCB—showcasing his exemplary loyalty.

Kohli, however, didn’t become the biggest brand in cricket with just his on-field brilliance. The 36-year-old signed sponsorship deals with some of the most popular brands around the world like Puma, Audi, MRF, Manyavar, and Philips, among others. Having started his career as a chubby youngster, Kohli worked very hard on his fitness and cut down on junk food, therefore becoming a role model for many aspiring cricketers.

Kohli is one of the most followed athletes in the world. He has a whopping 273 million followers on Instagram. He is also the co-owner of Wrong, Chisel, and has investments in sports tech and wellness startups. Furthermore, he has been recognized by Forbes, Time, and other international media outlets as a sporting and business icon. As a compilation of everything above, Virat Kohli has become one of the biggest flag-bearer of cricket’s popularity.

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