Virat Kohli Turns 36: Indian Cricket Star Celebrates Birthday Away from London, Faces Surreal Test with 12-Year-Old
Birthday boy Virat Kohli chose to stay in India to celebrate his 36th birthday, fully aware that he’s entering the final chapters of his illustrious career.
Virat Kohli, one of the most famous faces in the Indian cricket team, turns 36 today. As the leader of the Indian team, Kohli has had an incredible year, with India winning the World Cup in June. While 2024 may not have been his best year in terms of performance, Kohli is still adored by millions of fans.
Like cricket legends MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli has become an icon, and some even think his popularity has surpassed that of his former teammates. As he enters the later years of his career, Kohli will be eager to find the form that made him the “King” of cricket.
Despite rumors that Kohli was planning to settle in London, he decided to stay in India to celebrate his birthday. His wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, had returned to India in September, and Kohli joined her as they prepared for a series of five Test matches at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand.
Though the series ended badly with New Zealand sweeping India 3-0, Kohli had no better way to move on than by celebrating his birthday with his loved ones. Kohli and Anushka enjoyed dinner together at Mumbai’s One8 Community, where the media spotted them. Kohli looked happy and in high spirits, smiling and joking with photographers.
2024 has been a relatively quiet year for Kohli. Aside from his standout performance in the IPL, where he won the Orange Cap for most runs, he has played just 18 international matches—six Tests, three ODIs, and nine T20Is — scoring a modest 488 runs. However, the upcoming three important Test matches against Australia in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne are crucial. A strong showing in these games could help India secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, ease the pain from the New Zealand series, and possibly mark a comeback for Kohli after a long slump in form.
As fate would have it, 13 years after his test debut, Kohli finds himself in a situation similar to 2012. After a disappointing test season in 2011, Kohli was at a crossroads in his career. at 24, he still had time, but the pressure was mounting. Following a series of poor performances in the West Indies and the first few Tests in Australia, there were growing calls for him to be dropped from the team.
However, then-captain MS Dhoni saw the bigger picture. With legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman nearing the end of their careers, Kohli was identified as the player to lead India’s future. Dhoni believed in his potential and gave him the chance to finish the series.
How 24-Year-Old Virat Kohli Turned Things Around
And what a decision it turned out to be. At the iconic WACA in Perth, Kohli delivered a standout performance in the third Test, scoring a composed 44 in the first innings and an even more impressive 75 in the second, while the team’s senior players struggled. Though the series was already lost and it seemed like there was little to gain, Kohli took the confidence from his Perth innings into the next match in Adelaide. There, he scored his maiden Test century, marking the start of a remarkable bond with the Adelaide Oval, where he has since accumulated 509 runs in just four Tests.
A Decade Later: Kohli Faces Pressure Again
More than a decade after his breakthrough, Indian cricket finds itself in a similar spot. Kohli, now one of the senior players on the team, is under increasing pressure to justify his place. As commentator Sanjay Manjrekar once pointed out, Kohli must prove his worth.
This year, Kohli has managed only two fifties in Test cricket, the most recent of which came in January 2024. Meanwhile, younger players are emerging as serious contenders for spots, pushing the senior members for places. While Kohli’s remarkable fitness at 36 may buy him some extra time compared to captain Rohit Sharma, consistent form is now a crucial priority.
How Virat Kohli Can Succeed in Australia
Three key factors could fuel Kohli’s motivation during the upcoming series in Australia:
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His Strong Record Against Australia: Kohli has an impressive Test record against the Aussies, having scored 2042 runs in 25 matches at an average of 47.49, including eight centuries—five of which came on Australian soil. This success against a top-quality team will inspire confidence.
- The Significance of This Tour: Kohli missed much of the previous tour to Australia, so he knows this could be his final chance to play for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Australian soil. This sense of urgency adds extra motivation.
- The Australian Conditions: Unlike the spin-friendly pitches of India, Australia offers faster, bouncier surfaces that suit Kohli’s style of play. Without the pressure of facing rank-turning deliveries from Day 1, Kohli will have the freedom to play his shots, benefiting from the ball coming onto the bat more naturally.
These factors combined could give Kohli the push he needs to rediscover his best form and leave a lasting impact on what may be one of his final tours Down Under.
As time continues to pass, Kohli—despite everything he’s accomplished on his journey to becoming a titan of Indian cricket—must dig deep and summon every bit of energy, passion, motivation, and, most importantly, his signature aggression to prove he still has what it takes.
Once a relentless run-machine capable of piling on centuries with ease, Kohli now faces the challenge of rediscovering that form. If he can find that spark again in Australia, India will have a strong chance of securing a historic hat-trick of series wins.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the writer do not reflect those of InnovativeZone. InnovativeZone India Magazine does not endorse the opinions presented in this piece.
