Virat Kohli celebrates 36th birthday at home, skips London for surreal 12-Year-old test!
Virat Kohli, the face of Indian cricket, turns 36 today. This year has been rewarding for him, marked by India’s World Cup triumph in June. While 2024 may not have showcased his best form, Kohli remains a beloved figure for millions of fans. Like legends MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar, he has become an icon, with some claiming his popularity has eclipsed that of his peers. As he enters the later years of his 30s, Kohli aims to recapture the brilliance that earned him the title “King.”
Despite reports of him settling in London, Kohli chose to stay in India for his birthday. His wife, Bollywood star Anushka Sharma, returned to India in September, and Kohli joined her as he prepared for five Test matches at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand. The series ended disappointingly, with India losing 3-0 to New Zealand. However, celebrating his special day with loved ones provides a welcome distraction. Kohli and Anushka dined last night at Mumbai’s One8 Commune, where media captured Kohli smiling and joking with photographers.
This year has been relatively quiet for Kohli. Apart from his stellar IPL performance, where he topped the charts and claimed the Orange Cap, he played just 18 international matches: six Tests, three ODIs, and nine T20Is, scoring a modest 488 runs. Looking ahead, the upcoming three high-profile Test matches against Australia in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane are crucial. A strong showing could ease India’s path to the World Test Championship final and help Kohli break free from his recent slump.
Remarkably, 13 years after his Test debut, Kohli finds himself at a similar crossroads. After a disappointing Test season in 2011, he faced growing calls for his removal. Then-captain Dhoni recognized the need for a transition. With legends like Tendulkar and Dravid nearing the end, Dhoni believed in Kohli’s potential and allowed him to complete the series. Today, Kohli stands ready to reclaim his place among cricket’s elite.
