Virat Kohli Celebrates 38th Birthday with Heartfelt Tributes from BCCI and Coach

On November 5, cricket legend Virat Kohli celebrated his 38th birthday, receiving heartfelt wishes from BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma. Kohli's impressive performance in a recent ODI against New Zealand added to the celebrations. With numerous accolades, including a World Cup and multiple IPL titles, Kohli's journey from a young dreamer to a global icon is truly inspiring. Discover more about his achievements and the tributes he received on this special day.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 5, 2026, 13:58 IST

Celebrating a Cricket Legend

New Delhi, November 5: Rajeev Shukla, the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), along with Virat Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma, shared warm birthday wishes for the cricket superstar as he turned 38.

On his special day, Virat treated his fans to an impressive performance, scoring 74 runs off just 51 balls during a rain-affected ODI match against New Zealand in Auckland, contributing to a successful 143-run chase.

In a message posted on X, Shukla praised Kohli for his ability to inspire future generations of athletes, stating, "Heartiest birthday greetings to one of the finest ambassadors of Indian cricket, @imVkohli. Your remarkable achievements, fighting spirit, and commitment to the game have set new benchmarks and continue to motivate generations of aspiring sportspersons. May you continue to scale greater heights, create many more memorable moments, and inspire the nation with your brilliance both on and off the field. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, filled with good health, happiness, and continued success."

Heartiest birthday greetings to one of the finest ambassadors of Indian cricket, @imVkohli. Your remarkable achievements, fighting spirit and commitment to the game have set new benchmarks and continue to motivate generations of aspiring sportspersons. May you continue to scale greater heights, create many more memorable moments and inspire the nation with your brilliance both on and off the field. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, filled with good health, happiness and continued success.

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) November 5, 2026

Rajkumar Sharma also expressed his pride in Kohli's journey, reflecting on how he transformed from a young boy with dreams into a global cricketing icon. He remarked, "Proud of the person and cricketer you have become. Keep inspiring millions with your passion, discipline, and dedication. Happy Birthday, Virat! God bless you, beta."

Virat Kohli's accolades are numerous, including a 50-over World Cup, a T20 World Cup, two Champions Trophy titles, and two IPL championships. He stands out as India's most successful Test captain, achieving 40 victories in 68 matches, with only 17 losses.

In Test cricket, Kohli has played 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, making him the fourth-highest scorer for India in this format. He is also the second-highest run-scorer in ODIs globally, with 15,183 runs in 318 matches, averaging 58.84, and holding the record for 55 centuries and 80 fifties. In T20Is, he ranks third with 4,188 runs in 125 innings, averaging 48.69, featuring one century and 38 fifties.

Overall, Kohli is the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history, with 28,601 runs in 566 matches, 633 innings at an average of 52.86, including 86 centuries and 149 fifties, with a personal best of 254*.