Virat Kohli Awards: ICC, IPL, and National Honours Won By King Kohli

Virat Kohli has been the greatest 50-over batter of all time. He is the ‘modern master’ of cricket; he sits at the top of the most ODI hundreds list. He has been the face of Indian and world cricket for many years. He adds a brand value to his name and has established himself as one of the most followed athletes in the world. He is currently the richest cricketer in world cricket and is the most handsome cricketer in India as well.

Virat Kohli's National Honours

Virat Kohli's contributions to Indian cricket have been recognised by popular national honours that showcase his dedication, discipline, and exceptional on and off-field ability. These prizes fittingly honoured Kohli's consistency and match-winning abilities. He adds a brand value to his name and has established himself as one of the most followed athletes in the world.

Apart from winning awards, he has worked with some big brands as an influencer, making him even more popular among fans. He is being recognised for his commitment, sportsmanship, and legacy, which he is creating for future generations. They are all well-deserved awards for a player who does the job on big stages and who can perform under pressure. In this article, we will look at some of the awards received by Virat Kohli.

3. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (2018)

In 2018, Virat Kohli received India's highest athletic honour, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This is an award for people who have excelled in one of their sports and Kohli's selection is testament to the fact that he is unbeatable on the field of cricket and the years that he has gone through on his journey to this award have been all about consistency, record-breaking performances and a relentless need for victory.

After Kohli received the Khel Ratna, he was already well established as one of the finest batsmen of his era. His aggressive cricketing style and the ability to anchor an innings under pressure made him an invaluable member of Team India. Till 2018, he was one of the finest batters for India across formats and scored runs in nearly every series, both home and away, demonstrating his capability to adjust to various conditions.

2. Padma Shri (2017)

Virat Kohli received India’s fourth-highest civilian award in 2017 for his noteworthy contributions to cricket. By the time he was 28 years old, Kohli had become a world-class cricketer, widely associated with an aggressive batting style, unwavering dedication, and brilliant consistency in all forms of the game. By the time he was awarded the Padma Shri, Kohli had accomplished what most cricketers could only hope for; his record run chases, multiple centuries, and leadership on the field earned him respect in the whole cricketing fraternity.

Kohli’s Padma Shri ceremony was a memorable moment for him. For Kohli, this was not only a personal achievement but a tribute to his unwavering dedication and tireless hours of hard work he had put in. His aggressive mindset as captain and on field aggressive batting and approach has brought the side to dominance domestically and internationally.

1. Arjuna Award (2013)

In 2013, Virat Kohli won the Arjuna Award, a huge honour for the best Indian cricketers of all time for doing something tremendously athletic - and that moment was significant for the youngster who was coming off his best form. By the time in 2013, Kohli had quickly made himself one of India's most promising batsmen. This was the time he was given the name ‘Chase Master’ for playing some memorable knocks and winning India games while chasing matches. He was voted as the next face of the Indian cricket team, and he accepted it with humility and dedication.

Virat Kohli's Sporting Honours

Virat Kohli's awards demonstrate the exceptional temperament, discipline, and unending will to succeed. He has made all these awards a part of his personality, not just as accolades, not only as his strength and conviction in doing something different with cricket, but as a symbol of his resolve to elevate himself to new heights in his chosen sport. He has dominated all formats on his home soil and overseas conditions. We take a look at Virat Kohli's awards in sports.

3. Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (Three Consecutive Times)

Virat Kohli's three-year run as the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World (2016, 2017, and 2018) highlights his remarkable consistency, dominance, and absolute mastery. In 2016, he scored 2,595 runs across forms, including 973 runs in the IPL, the most in a single edition of the event. In the following year then the Indian captain scored 2,818 international runs across forms, the most of any batsman that year. By 2018, Kohli had achieved the highest point of his career, scoring 2,735 runs in international cricket, including 11 hundreds.

2. IPL Orange Cap

Virat Kohli's incredible performance in the 2016 season earned him the coveted Orange Cap for scoring the most runs by any batter in a single season. Kohli not only topped the statistics, but he also redefined what consistency and dominance mean in Twenty20 cricket. His astounding tally featured four centuries, the highest ever achieved by a player in a single IPL season, and seven half-centuries. The former RCB captain's relentless form carried the team to the tournament's finals. Although the squad fell short of winning the trophy, Kohli's heroics throughout the season were strongly lauded. This is one of the most prestigious among Virat Kohli's awards

1. Stand Named in His Honor (2019)

In 2019, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) made a historic decision to honour Virat Kohli by naming a stand after him at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This astonishing gesture was both a tribute to Kohli's incredible exploits on the field and a celebration of his roots, given that the stadium is located in his birthplace, where he first polished his cricketing skills. The Arun Jaitley Stadium holds a particular place in Virat Kohli's heart. It is where he started playing age-group cricket and earned his name on Delhi's home circuit before rising to international prominence.

Virat Kohli's ICC Awards

Virat Kohli's technique and a hunger for runs have made him a true contender for these awards for outstanding performance by the International Cricket Council (ICC) year after year. He has been winning the hearts of fans across the world, and thus his achievements have been remarkable, and his collection of ICC Awards reflects his ongoing superiority on the global stage.

10. ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year (2023)

In 2023, Virat Kohli won the prestigious ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year title, cementing his place in cricket history. His outstanding consistency, wonderful stroke play, and complete dominance in the One Day International format. Kohli's numbers for 2023 were astonishing. In 27 ODIs, Kohli amassed a remarkable 1,377 runs at an exceptional average of 72.47, including six centuries and eight half-centuries.

During the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, he finished as the tournament's highest run scorer and the player of the competition. In 11 matches, he scored 765 runs at an impressive average of 95.62, including three centuries. In the very tournament, Kohli scored his 50th ODI century, surpassing the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most centuries in the format. This ranks among the best of Virat Kohli's awards.

9. ICC Spirit of Cricket (2019)

In 2019, Virat Kohli, who is most known for his aggressive and fiery appearance on the field, demonstrated a different side of his personality—one marked by grace, empathy, and true sportsmanship. The moment that captured global attention occurred during India's high-octane clash against Australia at The Oval. Australian batsman Steve Smith, who had just returned to international cricket after serving a ban for ball-tampering, was met with jeers and taunts from sections of the crowd.

Many spectators continued to boo Smith whenever he was fielding near the boundary. He turned towards the Indian supporters, waving his hands in a gesture that clearly said, "Cheer for him, not against him." This was the reason he received the renowned ICC Spirit of Cricket Award, which reflects the very heart of what the sport stands for. It is one of the most prestigious awards for Virat Kohli.

8. ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year (2022)

In 2022, Virat Kohli reaffirmed his supremacy in the game's shortest format by being named to the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year. Kohli's consistency this year was clear. He scored 781 runs in T20Is at an average of 55.78, demonstrating that class endures even in the fast-paced environment of T20 cricket. His ability to anchor innings while accelerating as needed made him an important member of India's top order.

Being nominated to the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year was more than simply a personal honour for Kohli; it was of his tenacity and refusal to fade from the international stage. Kohli's standout moment of the year came during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 when he played a historic innings against Pakistan. Chasing a daunting target at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

7. ICC Test Team of the Year (2017–2019)

From 2017 to 2019, Virat Kohli dominated Test cricket with elegance, grit, and relentless consistency. His outstanding efforts during this time earned him a berth on the ICC Test Team of the Year for three consecutive years. Between 2017 and 2019, Kohli scored nearly 3,500 Test runs at a staggering average of 64.61. He scored 14 Test hundreds during this time.

Kohli's attitude to Test cricket during these years was characterised by discipline and a desire for runs. His cover drives, flicks off the pads, and tenacious defence became nightmares for bowlers all over the world. His outstanding batting prowess made him the face of Test cricket from 2017 to 2019, establishing new standards for future generations.

6. ICC ODI Team of the Year (2012, 2014, 2016–2019)

Virat Kohli's outstanding record in One Day Internationals (ODIs) has been highlighted by his continuous selection to the ICC ODI Team of the Year. From 2012 until 2019, the former India captain earned amazing success during this tenure. Between 2014 and 2019, Kohli's name became one of the best batters in the ODI format. It was the peak of his dominance in limited-overs cricket, and he became one of the finest ODI players the game has ever seen.

In 2016, he made an exceptional record by becoming the highest run-getter of the year, scoring more than 1,500+ runs in a calendar year. He had another outstanding year in 2019 as he ended the year as the world's second-highest ODI run-scorer (and his record of combining good seasons). Kohli's inclusion in the ICC ODI Team of the Year for so many years reflects his unwavering desire for perfection and ability to dominate the 50-over game.

5. ICC Test Player of the Year (2018)

In 2018, Virat Kohli's batting skills were unparalleled in the world of Test cricket. His outstanding performances throughout the year earned him the ICC Test Player of the Year award. He scored an incredible 1,322 runs in 13 matches, with an average of 55.08, including five centuries and four half-centuries. His sensational hundred against England at Edgbaston, 149, which has yet to be forgotten.

Against a world-class bowling attack, it has been one of his all-time finest innings, full of immense positives and the most remarkable sense of pride in being able to respond in this manner under pressure. The relentless pursuit of perfection, the unwavering determination for the sport as its purest expression, are what elevate him to international glory, and this award is in keeping with his long list of Virat Kohli ICC Awards.

4. ICC ODI Player of the Year (2012, 2017, 2018)

Virat Kohli's domination in the 50-over format was appropriately recognised with the ICC ODI Player of the Year Award on three occasions—2012, 2017, and 2018. Kohli emerged as a budding superstar in 2012, firmly establishing himself as India's go-to man in crucial situations. That year, he amassed an impressive 1,733 runs, averaging 66.65 with eight centuries and six half-centuries. In 2017, he was not only India's backbone but the world's best ODI batsman.

That year, he scored 1,460 runs in just 26 matches at a staggering average of 76.84, including six centuries. His captaincy was also successful, as India outperformed tougher opponents, including historic series victories over Australia and New Zealand. In the following year, Kohli reached a new level of excellence, scoring 1,202 runs in only 14 matches with an astonishing average of 133.55. In 2018, he scored six centuries, including two consecutive centuries in the Rainbow Nation.

3. ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade (2011–2020)

The years 2011 to 2020 can truly be considered the "Virat Kohli Era." His incredible consistency, unrivalled appetite for runs, and ability to dominate bowling attacks all over the world earned him the prestigious distinction of ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade. During this time, Kohli redefined what it meant to chase targets.

During these ten years, he scored an incredible 11,125 runs in only 227 matches at an average of 60.20, including 42 centuries and 52 half-centuries. For his unmatched ability to effortlessly chase down large totals, Kohli is categorised as “The Chase Master”. It is this acumen that has reflected in the award, ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade. The ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade Award highlights Kohli's domination, determination, and exceptional achievements in the game.

2. ICC Cricketer of the Year (2017, 2018)

Virat Kohli has won the ICC Cricketer of the Year award twice in a row, in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, Kohli was at his peak, hitting runs with machine-like precision in all formats. He scored over 2,818 runs in international cricket that year, with an average of 68.93 in ODIs and 75.64 in Tests. The following year, Kohli scored 2,735 runs in international cricket across all formats, demonstrating his class once more.

His performances in swinging and seaming conditions, particularly in England and Australia, silenced critics who had previously questioned his technique. The former Indian skipper scored 593 runs in the five-match Test series against England, including two centuries, which showcased his patience and resilience in seaming conditions. In the ODI format, his performance was also outstanding, with consistent centuries that helped India win games with ease. He concluded 2018 with 1,202 ODI runs at an average of 133.55.

1. Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (2011–2020)

One of the most prominent Virat Kohli ICC Awards is the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade (2011-2020). During this time, he scored almost 20,000 international runs, including 66 centuries, a record that no other player could equal. During the decade, he hit 22 hundreds in successful ODI run chases, demonstrating that Kohli was at his best when the pressure was on his side.

Kohli's consistency was incredible; he averaged more than 50 in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, showing his capacity to adapt and dominate in any given situation, against any team. His ability to calculate during run chases, especially in ODIs, revolutionized the way limited-overs cricket is played today. Among the many Virat Kohli ICC Awards, this one holds a special place for the former skipper.

Virat Kohli Award List: ICC Awards

Virat Kohli's Unforgettable Awards

4. PETA India's Person of the Year (2019)

Virat Kohli's presence goes beyond cricket; he was elected PETA India's Person of the Year for 2019. Kohli was awarded this accolade due to his efforts in promoting humane treatment of animals. Throughout his career, he has been active on social media advocating for animal welfare. Given his history of backing anti-cruelty initiatives, his PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) membership was not surprising.

3. CNN-News18 Indian of the Year (2017)

In 2017, Virat Kohli received the award of CNN - News 18 Indian of the Year, which he earned due to his unparalleled prowess in cricket, as well as being one of the most powerful athletes in India to date. During this period, Kohli was shattering records internationally and within all forms of the cricket game. He also single-handedly pushed the Indian cricket team to new internationally recognized heights through relentless motivation as captain. As phenomenal as any athlete can get, there wasn’t a single month in 2017 when Kohli did not score runs or dominate matches with immense control and physical prowess.

2. GQ Sportsman of the Year (2013)

Virat Kohli's exceptional rise in the world of cricket was accentuated when he was crowned GQ Sportsman of the Year in 2013. This coveted award acknowledged his excellent skills, consistency, and combative approach on the field. GQ's choice to give him this moniker also recognised his magnetic personality off the field. GQ's choice to give him this moniker also recognised his magnetic personality off the field. His influence in popular culture and youth aspirations was acknowledged in the GQ Sportsman of the Year award alongside his achievements in cricket.

1. People's Choice Awards India for Favourite Sportsperson (2012)

The recognition given to Kohli stemmed from his accolades in cricketing recognition and his 2012 win at the People’s Choice Awards as India’s Favorite Sportsperson. Kohli's aggressive style of play during that period helped him to evolve as an upcoming star both at the batting scale and at the Indian international cricket stage, which allowed him to perform outstandingly during important ODIs and Test matches. This acknowledgment was the first step towards him achieving his potential of becoming a cricketing icon.