Despite knowing that he was approaching the end of his playing days, birthday boy Virat Kohli chose to celebrate his birthday in India.
Today is the 36th birthday of Virat Kohli, the iconic figure of Indian cricket. With India winning the World Cup in June, Kohli has had one of the most fruitful years of his career as the captain of the Indian cricket team. Even though 2024 might not have been his best season, millions of loyal fans still hold Kohli in high regard.
Like cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, Kohli has become a household name; in fact, some people think that his fame has eclipsed that of his former contemporaries. As he enters his later thirties, Kohli would be eager to relive the genius that brought him the title of “King” so many years ago.
Even though it has been reported that Kohli has moved to London, he has decided to celebrate his birthday in India. Kohli prepared for five Test matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand at home after his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, returned to India in September. Even though New Zealand swept India 3-0 at the end of the series, there’s no better way for Kohli to get over the loss than to spend his special day with his loved ones.
In actuality, Kohli has had a somewhat quiet year in 2024. Kohli has played in just 18 international matches, including six Tests, three ODIs, and nine T20Is, scoring a meager 488 runs aside from his outstanding IPL performance, when he topped the charts and won the Orange Cap.
The three highly anticipated Test matches against Australia that are coming up in Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne, however, are crucial. In addition to easing India’s route to the World Test Championship final and aiding in the recovery from New Zealand’s injuries, a strong showing in these games could also signal a change in direction for Kohli’s current and protracted miserable run of play.
As it happens, 13 years after making his Test debut, Kohli is in a situation that reminds him of 2012. After a dismal 2011 Test season, Kohli found himself at a turning point in his career. Even though he was only 24, he still had prospects in the future, but time was running short. Calls for his dismissal from the team were intensifying following a run of subpar performances in the West Indies and the first three Test matches in Australia.
But Dhoni, the captain at the time, understood that a change was necessary. Legends like VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar were nearing the end of their careers, and Kohli was considered the man to take over. Dhoni gave the young hitter permission to finish the series because he believed in his abilities.
How a 24-year-old Virat Kohli turned things around
And it proved to be quite a move. While the team’s more experienced players struggled, Kohli put on an outstanding display in the third Test at the legendary WACA in Perth, scoring a resolute 44 in the first innings and an even more remarkable 75 in the second. Kohli carried the confidence from his innings in Perth into the next match in Adelaide, even though it appeared India had little left to gain and the series was already lost. After scoring his first Test century there, he developed an incredible bond with the Adelaide Oval, where he has since collected 509 runs in four Test matches.
Indian cricket is in a same vulnerable position over ten years later. As Sanjay Manjrekar previously said years ago, Kohli, who is now one of the team’s elder players, is under increasing pressure to defend his position. This year, Kohli has only produced two Test fifties, the most recent being in January 2024. The veteran members are under strain as newer players are breaking down the door. Kohli may have a longer rope than captain Rohit Sharma due to his exceptional condition at age 36, but maintaining consistent form is still of utmost importance.
In Australia, Kohli’s motivation is likely to be fueled by three important variables. First, his stellar Test record versus the Australians: 2042 runs at an average of 47.49 in 25 games, including eight hundreds, five of which came in Australia. Second, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at stake, Kohli is aware that this may be his last trip to Australia after missing the most of the previous tour. Finally, the spin-friendly surfaces he has experienced in India are very different from the wickets in Australia. Since Day 1, there have been no balls spinning or rank-turners, so Kohli will be able to play his shots and take advantage of the ball coming neatly onto the bat.
Despite everything he has accomplished on his path to become a titan of Indian cricket, Kohli needs to muster all of his vigor, passion, drive, and—above all—his signature aggression as the sands of time tumble through the hourglass to demonstrate that he still has what it takes. He used to be a merciless run-machine who enjoyed peeling off centuries. India will have a good chance of winning a historic hat-trick of series if Kohli can regain his form in Australia.
