An upcoming book will spell the life story of India’s cricket team captain Virat Kohli as he went from being the chubby-cheeked ‘Cheeku’ to the Under-19 India captain and finally to become one of the best batsmen in the world.
Titled “Virat: The Making of a Champion”, the book is published by Hachette India. It will hit the stores on May 7.
It is written by sports journalists Neeraj Jha and Vidhanshu Kumar, with current interviews with cricketers and expert commentators such as Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Michael Clark, and Kohlis’ childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma.
The book’s blurb introduces the 30-year-old ace cricketer as “that exceptional teenager who returned to play an innings the day his dad passed away”.
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century during the VIVO IPL cricket T20 match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata, India, Friday, April 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)
Mumbai Indians’ Krunal Pandya, left, and Hardik Pandya celebrate the dismissal of Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli during the VIVO IPL T20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Bangalore, India, Thursday, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s skipper Virat Kohli in action during the 17th match of IPL 2019 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 5, 2019. (Photo: IANS)
Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli and Mumbai Indian’s Lasith Malinga in action during the seventh IPL 2019 match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28, 2019. (Photo: IANS)
Chennai: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli during the first IPL 2019 match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 23, 2019. (Photo: IANS)
Chennai: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli in action during the first IPL 2019 match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 23, 2019. (Photo: IANS)
Australian cricket captain Aaron Finch, left, and his Indian counterpart Virat Kohli pose with the Paytm ODI trophy before the fifth and the final one day international cricket match between the two teams in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, March 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
New Delhi: India’s Virat Kolhi and Rohit Sharma in action during the fifth ODI match between India and Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, in New Delhi, on March 13, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Visakhapatnam: India’s Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni after the second ODI (One Day International) match between India and West Indies that ended in a tie at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, on Oct 24, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Hyderabad: India captain Virat Kohli addresses a press conference ahead of the first ODI match against Australia at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on March 1, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
New Delhi: Indian captain Virat Kohli walks back to the pavilion after getting dismissed during the fifth ODI match between India and Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, in New Delhi, on March 13, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
New Delhi: Indian Captain Virat Kohli and Australian Captain Aaron Finch pose with the Trophy ahead of the fifth ODI match between India and Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi, on March 13, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
India’s captain Virat Kohli, right, reacts as he leaves the ground after loosing to Australia during the fourth one day international cricket match against India in Mohali, India, Sunday, March 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Mohali (Punjab): India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of Aaron Finch with captain Virat Kohli and teammates during the fourth ODI match between India and Australia at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, Punjab on March 10, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Ranchi: India’s Virat Kohli during the third ODI match between India and Australia at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on March 8, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Virat Kohli – the run machine. (IANS Infographics)
Nagpur: Indian skipper Virat Kohli celebrates after winning the second ODI match against Australia at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, in Nagpur, on March 5, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Nagpur: India’s Virat Kohli and Vijay Shankar during a practice session ahead of the 2nd ODI match against Australia, at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, in Nagpur, on March 4, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/ IANS)
Nagpur: India’s Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni during a practice session ahead of the second ODI match against Australia, at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, in Nagpur, on March 4, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/ IANS)
Nagpur: India’s Virat Kohli and Vijay Shankar during a practice session ahead of the 2nd ODI match against Australia, at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, in Nagpur, on March 4, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/ IANS)
Nagpur: India’s Virat Kohli and Vijay Shankar during a practice session ahead of the 2nd ODI match against Australia, at Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium, in Nagpur, on March 4, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/ IANS)
India’s Virat Kohli reacts after loosing match against Australia during the first Twenty20 international cricket match in Visakhapatnam, India, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
India captain Virat Kohli, left, talks with India’s Jasprit Bumrah before he came on to bowl during the fifth cricket test match of a five match series between England and India at the Oval cricket ground in London, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, left, speaks to his captain Virat Kohli during a training session at Lord’s Cricket ground in London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. England will play India in the second of a 5 Test match series starting Thursday. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
India’s Virat Kohli drops a catch during their third one day international cricket match against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Tauranga, New Zealand, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/John Cowpland)
Indian captain Virat Kohli celebrates his half-century during the 3rd ODI match between India and New Zealand at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand on Jan 28, 2019. (Photo Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Tauranga: Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Yuzvendra Chahal and Vijay Shankar celebrate after winning the 2nd ODI match against New Zealand by 90 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, New Zealand on Jan 26, 2019. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
India’s Virat Kohli celebrates his 100 against Australia during their one-day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
India’s Virhat Kohli, right, leads his team off after an early tea break is called due to poor light while playing Australia on day 4 of their cricket test match in Sydney, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
India’s skipper Virat Kohli tosses the ball to bowler Jasprit Bumrah during play in the second cricket test between Australia and India in Perth, Australia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
India captain Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
India’s Virat Kohli, left, reacts after Australia’s Pat Cummins was caught out during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
India’s captain Virat Kohli, right, celebrates Jasprit Bumrah, left, after Bumrah got the wicket of Australia’s Shaun Marsh during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Indian skipper Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Mumbai: Indian captain Virat Kohli accompanied by head coach Ravi Shastri, addresses a press conference ahead of the team’s departure for the tour of Australia; in Mumbai on Nov 15, 2018. India prepares for the challenging tour to Australia, that includes four Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. (Photo: IANS)
Bollywood actress and wife of Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, center, applauds during the VIVO IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, May 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India’s Virat Kohli removes his helmet as he walks off after being dismissed during play in the second cricket test between Australia and India in Perth, Australia, Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)
India’s Virat Kohli, centre, celebrates with his teammates after defeating Australia by 31 runs to win the first cricket test in Adelaide, Australia,Monday, Dec. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
India’s Virat Kohli celebrates with a teammate after the dismissal of Australia’s Peter Handscomb, right, during the first cricket test between Australia and India in Adelaide, Australia,Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Mumbai: Indian captain Virat Kohli arrives to address a press conference ahead of the team’s departure for the tour of Australia; in Mumbai on Nov 15, 2018. India prepares for the challenging tour to Australia, that includes four Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. (Photo: IANS)
Mumbai: Indian head coach Ravi Shastri accompanied by captain Virat Kohli, addresses a press conference ahead of the team’s departure for the tour of Australia; in Mumbai on Nov 15, 2018. India prepares for the challenging tour to Australia, that includes four Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is. (Photo: IANS)
India’s Jasprit Bumrah, left, speaks to his captain Virat Kohli during a training session at Lord’s Cricket ground in London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018. England will play India in the second of a 5 Test match series starting Thursday. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
New Delhi: Indian captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri address a press conference before leaving for England and Ireland, in New Delhi, on June 22, 2018 (Photo: Bidesh Manna/IANS)
Pune: India’s Virat Kohli celebrates his century during the third ODI (One Day International) match between India and West Indies at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune , on Oct 27, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni, second right, whispers in the ear of India’s captain Virat Kohli, second left, after the dismissal of West Indies’ Chandrapaul Hemraj during the second one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Visakhapatnam, India, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
India’s Rohit Sharma, back to camera, celebrates with captain Virat Kohli after scoring a century during the first one-day international cricket match between India and West Indies in Gauhati, India, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Indian captain Virat Kohli with other team members after winning the Second Test match against West Indies at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Oct 14, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Indian bowler Umesh Yadav, left, celebrates with Virat Kohli the dismissal of West Indies’ Roston Chase during the third day of the second cricket test match between India and West Indies in Hyderabad, India, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
Rajkot: Indian captain Virat Kohli and other players after winning against West Indies on Day 3 of the First Test match between India and West Indies at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Oct 6, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Rajkot: Indian captain Virat Kohli and other players after winning against West Indies on Day 3 of the First Test match between India and West Indies at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Oct 6, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Rajkot: India’s Virat Kohli with his teammates on Day 2 of the First Test match between India and West Indies at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Oct 5, 2018. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, right, speaks during a press conference with coach Ravi Shastri, center, in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017. India are to play a three-test series against South Africa, starting Jan. 5. (AP Photo)
India’s Virat Kohli reacts after the end of the 4th test which England won by 60 runs on the fourth day of the 4th cricket test match between England and India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. England and India are playing a 5 test series. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
England’s Moeen Ali, top right celebrates after teammate England’s Alastair Cook, at left catches India’s Virat Kohli out during play on the fourth day of the 4th cricket test match between England and India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. England and India are playing a 5 test series. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. (File Photo: IANS)
England’s Adil Rashid waits for the ball, as India’s Hardik Pandya, left, and Virat Kohli take a run during the first day of the third cricket test match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
India’s captain Virat Kohli receives treatment for a bad back during the fourth day of the second test match between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
India’s Virat Kohli, right talks to his vice captain and teammate Ajinkya Rahane during a training session at Lord’s Cricket ground in London, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018. England will play India in the second of a 5 cricket test match series starting Thursday. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli completes a run during the fourth day of the first test cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
England’s Ben Stokes celebrates the dismissal of Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli during the fourth day of the first test cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
England’s Sam Curran, right, celebrates with teammate Stuart Broad after scoring 50 runs during the third day of the first test cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, left, and Dinesh Karthik leave the field at the end of the day’s play on the third day of the first test cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
“He is the chubby rookie who now sets fitness goals. He is the fiery batsman and nimble fielder who always wants to win. Virat Kohli’s determination to overcome his drawbacks and shine his skills has him well on his way to becoming an all-time great in cricket,” the blurb added.
Full of records, statistics, photographs and behind-the-scene anecdotes, the new title will detail the inspiring life story Kohli, who has come a long way to become the ultimate youth icon.
