Virat Kohli Completes 15 Years In International Cricket. A Look Back At The Journey

On this day in 2008, young Virat Kohli first entered the international arena, making his debut against Sri Lanka in an ODI match. Just a few months prior to the Sri Lanka series, Virat had just etched his name in history books by leading India to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup trophy and just like a lot of U19 captains in the past, had made a strong case for donning the Indian cap in future, scoring 235 runs in six matches at an average of 47.00, with one century against West Indies in group stages.

Virat along with fellow Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir opened the batting against Sri Lanka and could score just 12 runs. The youngster ended his first series with decent numbers, scoring 159 runs in five matches at an average of 31.80, getting his first fifty in the fifth ODI. While many knew that Virat was destined for international success based on his talent and U19 success, the level of success he would go on to achieve in years to come was just unbelievable even for his die-hard followers.

Year by year, Kohli presented himself as the epitome of consistency across all formats, becoming the part of modern-day 'Fab Four' batting quartet along with Steve Smith from Australia, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and England's Joe Root.

Since then, Kohli has represented India in 111 Tests. After making his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies, he overcame the horrors of his first tour, in which he could score just 76 runs in five innings to establish himself as one of the biggest ambassadors of red-ball cricket. He has scored 8,676 runs at an average of 49.29 in 187 innings, with 29 centuries and 29 fifties and the best score of 254*.

15 Years for the G.O.A.T. #15YearsOfKingKohli pic.twitter.com/lNsG49gvVu

He is the fifth-highest