Virat Kohli’s worldwide charisma and popularity are widely acknowledged. As one of the biggest global icons, he boasts a massive fan base. The batting maestro delivered an outstanding performance in 2023, shattering numerous records and accumulating an impressive run tally.
Despite his heroic efforts, India fell short in winning the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. However, this setback has not diminished Virat’s popularity; if anything, it has soared.
In 2023, according to the FPJ, Virat surpassed Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in terms of the most viewed Wikipedia pages among Asians. He stands as the most popular Asian personality, with over 10.7 million visits to his Wikipedia page.
During the first Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park, Kohli achieved another milestone by becoming the first batter to exceed 2000 runs in a calendar year for the record seventh time. Surpassing Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara’s six-time record, Kohli reached the milestone by scoring 38 runs in the first inning and breaking the record with an additional 28 runs in the second inning.
Beyond this feat, Kohli also claimed the title of the leading run-scorer for India in South Africa across all formats, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 1724 runs. With 1750 runs in 29 matches, including five centuries and an average of 50, Kohli dominates the Indian batting charts in South Africa in ODIs, boasting 898 runs at an impressive average of 74.83.
In a challenging scenario during the first Test against South Africa, where India conceded a lead of 163 runs in the first innings, Kohli showcased his experience. Despite early dismissals of key players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Yashavi Jaiswal, and with Shreyas Iyer failing to contribute significantly, Kohli stood firm as India reached 121 for 9, still trailing the Proteas by 42 runs.
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