Kohli is a naturally aggressive batsman[35] with strong technical skills.[315] He usually bats at the no.3 position in ODI cricket.[316] He bats with a slightly open-chested stance[317][318] and a strong bottom-hand grip,[319][320] and is said to have quick footwork.[321] He is known for his wide range of shots, ability to pace an innings and batting under pressure.[322][323][324] He is strong through the mid-wicket and cover region.[325] He has said that the cover drive is his favourite shot, while also saying that the flick shot comes naturally to him.[17] He does not play the sweep shot often, being called "not a natural sweeper of the cricket ball".[326] His teammates have praised his confidence, commitment, focus and work ethics.[327][328][329] Kohli is also known to be a "sharp" fielder.[330][331]
Kohli is regarded as the best limited-overs batsman in the world, especially while chasing.[333][334] In ODIs, he averages around 69 in matches batting second as opposed to around 51 batting first.[335] 26 of his 43 ODI hundreds have come in run-chases and he holds the record for most hundreds batting second.[336] Regarding his impressive record batting second, Kohli has said "I love the whole situation that comes with chasing. I like the challenge of testing myself, figuring out how to rotate strike, when to hit a boundary."[17] Kohli is often compared to Sachin Tendulkar, due to their similar styles of batting, and sometimes referred to as Tendulkar's "successor".[159][168] Many former cricketers expect Kohli to break Tendulkar's batting records.[337][338] Kohli has stated that growing up his idol and role model was Tendulkar and that as a kid he "tried to copy the shots [Tendulkar] played and hit sixes the way he used to hit them."[339] Former West Indies great Vivian Richards, who is regarded as the most destructive batsman in cricket, stated that Kohli reminds him of himself.[143] In early 2015, Richards said Kohli was "already legendary" in the ODI format,[340] while former Australian cricketer Dean Jones called Kohli the "new king of world cricket".[341]
Kohli is noted for his on-field aggression and was described in the media as "brash" and "arrogant" during his early career.[329][343] He has got into confrontations with players and umpires on several occasions.[329][344] While many former cricketers have backed his aggressive attitude,[345][346][347] some have criticised it.[329][348] In 2012, Kohli had stated that he tries to limit his aggressive behaviour but "the build-up and the pressure or the special occasions make it tough to control the aggression."[349] In September 2018, West Indies legend Brian Lara, who was in New York as a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Trophy Tour, picked Kohli as one of the best batsmen in the world, alongside England captain Joe Root.[350]
AWARDS
National honours
2013 - Arjuna Award[351]
2017 - Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.[7]
2018 - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna[8]
Sporting honours
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Men's Cricketer of the Decade): 2011–2020[352]
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Cricketer of the Year): 2017,[353] 2018[354]
ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2012,[355] 2017,[356] 2018[354]
ICC Test Player of the Year: 2018[354]
ICC ODI Team of the Year: 2012,[357] 2014, 2016 (captain), 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain),[358] 2019 (captain)
ICC Test Team of the Year: 2017 (captain), 2018 (captain), 2019 (captain)[359]
ICC Spirit of Cricket: 2019[360]
ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Decade: 2011–2020[352]
ICC Men's Test Team of the Decade: 2011–2020 (captain)[361]
ICC Men's ODI Team of the Decade: 2011–2020[361]
ICC Men's T20I Team of the Decade: 2011–2020[361]
Polly Umrigar Award for International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2016, 2017,[6] 2018[362]
CEAT International Cricketer of the Year: 2011–12, 2013–14,[363] 2018–19
Barmy Army - International Player of Year: 2017, 2018[364]
A stand at Arun Jaitley Stadium is named Virat Kohli Stand on 12 September 2019.[365]
Other honours and awards
People's Choice Awards India For Favourite Sportsperson: 2012
CNN-News18 Indian of the Year: 2017[