Cricket has seen legends rise and fall, but there’s one name that echoes louder than the rest—a player who redefined what it means to lead, be consistent, to finish, and to inspire the cricketing world.
Fans don’t just call him a great cricketer—they call him the king. But who is the King of cricket? This article reveals everything about the king of cricket and why he is called it so.
Who is the King of Cricket?
Virat Kohli is known as the King of cricket due to his extraordinary achievements and consistency in international cricket. He dominates all formats of cricket and has some untouchable milestones like fastest 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 12,000 ODI runs. Virat is also known as the best chaser in ODI history.
Virat is the undisputed King of Cricket, thanks to his relentless work ethic, exceptional fitness, and unparalleled consistency. His commitment to pushing his limits, combined with record-breaking performances across all formats, has earned him the crown as the game’s true ruler.
When it comes to consistency, the dominance of King Kohli is unmatchable. The king also has the most centuries in ODI cricket (51), leaving behind Sachin Tendulkar. Some other records that make Virat a King of Cricket are as follows:
- Most ODI centuries (51), surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s 49
- Most centuries while chasing in ODIs (28)
- Fastest to 8,000–14,000 ODI runs
- Most runs in a single ODI World Cup edition (765 runs in 2023)
- Top run-scorer in T20 World Cup history
- First player to score 1,000 runs in T20 World Cup history
- Second-most international centuries (82), behind only Sachin Tendulkar
- Highest peak ODI rating for an Indian (911 points in 2018)
- Most double centuries by an Indian in Tests (7)
- Most Test wins as India captain (40 out of 68 matches)
- Highest peak Test rating for an Indian (937 points in 2018)
- Most Player of the Series awards in international cricket (20), tied with Sachin Tendulkar
- Most Player of the Match awards in ODIs among active players (43)
- Only cricketer to average nearly 50 across all three formats: Tests (46.85), ODIs (58.20), T20Is (48.69)
- Only Indian captain to win two Test series in Australia (2018–19 and 2020–21)
- First cricketer to win all three major ICC awards in a single year (2018): Cricketer of the Year, Test Cricketer of the Year, and ODI Cricketer of the Year
The International Council of Cricket (ICC) bowed down with respect when Virat completed his 14,000 runs with the tagline – He’s the King, he’s the emperor, he’s Virat Kohli. You can check out the post on the Facebook –
Virat Kohli as the King of IPL
Not only the international cricket, Virat is also known as the king of IPL with all-time lead-scorer, highest runs, most centuries, most runs as a captain, and other records. Due to the presence of Virat, RCB becomes one of the most followed teams in IPL history. The following are the records held by the king Kohli –
- Most runs in a single IPL season (973 in 2016)
- Most centuries in IPL history (8)
- Most runs in IPL history (8,326 runs)
- Only player to score 1,000+ runs against four different IPL teams: Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders
- Most catches in IPL history (114)
- First Indian to win the IPL Orange Cap twice
- Most runs in successful IPL chases (2,205 runs)
- Only cricketer to be named Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup twice: 2014 and 2016
- Most runs as an IPL captain (4,994 runs)
- Most half-centuries for Royal Challengers Bangalore (55)
- Most sixes for Royal Challengers Bangalore (272)
- Only player with over 1,000 boundaries in IPL history (1,039)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Called the King of Cricket?
Virat Kohli is the real king of cricket and holds most of the world records in all formats (eg; ODI, Test, T20). Due to his consistent runs scoring, centuries, quick 14000+ runs, and other unbreakable records, he is popularly known as “King Kohli” among the fans.
Who is the new king of cricket in the world?
In modern cricket, Virat Kohli is the new king of the cricket world due to his consistent performance and record-breaking innings. Some of the records are the most ODI centuries, the highest test rating, top run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, etc.
Who is the old king of cricket?
The god of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, is commonly referred to as the old king of cricket, as he retired in 2013. Sachin has the most runs in international cricket (34,357), the highest total centuries, most runs in the World Cup, and more that made him King.
Who is the king of ODI?
Virat Kohli is the King of ODI with the most international centuries (51), surpassing Sachin’s record. He is also the 3rd to score 14000+ runs in one-day internationals; however, he broke the record with the lowest innings (287). The other most notable record by Virat in ODI is 746 runs in the Champions Trophy, which is the highest.
Who is the No. 1 god of cricket?
Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the No. 1 God of Cricket. With over 34,000 international runs, 100 centuries, and a career spanning 24 years, he set benchmarks that inspired generations. His technique, humility, and unmatched records earned him this title across the cricketing world.
Who is the goat of cricket?
Virat Kohli is often considered the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of cricket for his exceptional consistency across all formats, record-breaking chases, and dominance in modern-day cricket. His fitness, passion, and ability to perform under pressure have set him apart in the contemporary era.
Who is king, Virat or Babar?
Virat Kohli is widely recognized as the King of Cricket. His unmatched consistency, record-breaking performances across all formats, and iconic presence in both international cricket and the IPL earned him the title. While Babar Azam is a top-tier batsman with the fastest 5000 runs in ODI, Virat’s longevity, impact, and legacy firmly place him ahead in the king debate.
