Mumbai : Former India captain and one of modern cricket’s greatest batsmen, Virat Kohli, celebrates his 37th birthday today. Though he now spends most of the year in London with wife Anushka Sharma, daughter Vamika, and son Akaay, Kohli remains deeply loved by millions of fans across India. He also owns homes and restaurants in cities such as Mumbai and Delhi, where his cricketing journey began.
Among the fittest cricketers the sport has ever seen, Kohli started his professional career with his first Ranji Trophy match for Delhi on November 23, 2006—just weeks after celebrating his 18th birthday on November 5. Around that time, his inclusion in Delhi’s squad had already become a major talking point.
Born on November 5, 1988, in Delhi, Kohli made a mark early on with his explosive batting in local matches. The 2006 Delhi Ranji squad he debuted in featured several prominent names—Gautam Gambhir (now India’s head coach), Mithun Manhas (current BCCI president), Shikhar Dhawan, Ashish Nehra, Aakash Chopra, and Ishant Sharma. Back then, Sharad Pawar was the BCCI president, while Chetan Chauhan, a former India opener, was Delhi’s coach.
As the RCB superstar, Kohli has often delivered memorable performances for India in November—particularly on his birthday. On November 5, 2023, he played one of his finest ODI innings, scoring an unbeaten 101 runs against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, during the ICC World Cup. The innings earned him the Player of the Match award and helped India seal their spot in the semifinals.
Just days later, in the semifinal against New Zealand, Kohli scored 117 runs, while Shreyas Iyer contributed 105. However, Mohammed Shami, with his seven-wicket haul, was named Player of the Match.
Sunil Gavaskar’s Last Match on November 5
Interestingly, November 5 also marks the final international appearance of another Indian batting legend, Sunil Gavaskar. He played his last ODI for India on this very day in 1987, against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Selection on November 5, 1989
Adding to the coincidence, Sachin Tendulkar was first selected for India’s national team on November 5, 1989, ahead of the historic Pakistan tour. He went on to make his Test debut just ten days later, on November 15, 1989, marking the start of one of cricket’s most celebrated careers. Three legends, one date — November 5 — forever etched in Indian cricket history.
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