While Lionel Messi is termed as a global icon, Virat Kohli won “Athlete of the Year 2023” from Pubity, a gigantic Instagram account with over 35 million followers! They ran a fan vote on Instagram, pitting 16 top athletes including the likes of Novak Djokovic, Pat Cummins, LeBron James, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Max Verstappen against each other in daily polls.
In the final showdown, Kohli had a final showdown with Lionel Messi where Kohli crushed Messi by a whopping 78% to 28% vote margin, proving he’s still the king of hearts (and awards!) for many fans.
Virat Kohli‘s not just a cricket hero, he’s making the game famous worldwide! Even the Olympic organizers said his massive fan base helped bring cricket to the 2028 games. That’s pretty big!
Sure, cricket’s mostly popular in a few countries, but it’s still the second most-watched sport thanks to millions of fans in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. And with India’s booming economy, guess who’s leading the charge? Yep, cricket!
Kohli’s not just got the skills, he’s got the grit too. He averages a massive 50 in tests and 1377 runs in 24 ODIs, all while bouncing back from tough times like a champ. Plus, the guy lights up the stadium with his energy!
But what truly sets Kohli apart is his consistency. In 2023, he averaged a mind-blowing 55.91 in tests! That, along with his insane fitness, shows how dedicated he is to staying at the top of his game. So, Kohli’s not just a batsman, he’s a global cricket ambassador who’s pushing the boundaries of the sport. Remember the name, because he’s not going anywhere!
2023 marked the rise of Virat Kohli after a long slump
In 2023, Shubman Gill was the only player to outscore Kohli on the international stage. Despite Gill accumulating 106 more runs than Kohli, it’s noteworthy that he achieved this while playing 16 additional innings.
Kohli, aged 35, delivered a spectacular performance in the World Cup 2023, setting new records. During the tournament, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s 673-run record from the 2003 World Cup, becoming the first batsman to exceed 700 runs in a single World Cup. Adding to his achievements, in the semi-final against New Zealand, Kohli marked his 50th ODI century, a feat never accomplished before in the history of the game
