Virat Kohli –Captain of the Indian Cricket Team, has managed to earn yet another accolade in his already fabulous career but this time off the field, as the dashing batsman has been named in TIME magazine's 100 most influential people in the world for the year 2018.
Last year, Kohli not only grabbed headlines for his on-field exploits but also his marriage with the Bollywood Actress Anushka Sharma.
The Indian right-hander, who has earned applause across the globe for his prolific batting and captaincy skills, has enjoyed a phenomenal season last year, as he amassed 2818 runs across all formats, as well as, cracked 11 centuries.
In the list, there are only four sportsmen who have managed to find themselves there, are –Kohli, Roger Federer Kevin Durant, and Justin James Watt. Meanwhile, Kohli, Federer, and Durant have been named in the 'Titans' category, while Watt found himself in the 'Leaders' category.
Besides, Actress Deepika Padukone, Microsoft's Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella, and Ola co-founder Bhavish Aggarwal, Indian skipper Kohli is the fourth Indian who has found himself in the 100 most influential people of the world in 2018.
As per reports in DNA, the magazine said, “TIME's annual list of the world's most influential people is a designation of individuals whose time, in our estimation, is now.”
Meanwhile, Tendulkar wrote in Kohli’s profile, “The U-19 World Cup in 2008 was very important for India; as it would define the next bunch of youngsters who would go on to represent the nation. That was the first time I watched this young, passionate player lead India. Today Virat Kohli is a household name and a champion in cricket. Even back then, his hunger for runs and consistency was remarkable, something that has become the hallmark of his game. Every sportsman knows what it’s like to have good spells and bad ones too. Virat took the criticism he faced during a disappointing West Indies series and returned home with a goal: to improve not only his technique, but also his fitness level. He’s never looked back. My father always told me that if I focused on what I was doing, over time, detractors would become followers. Virat seems to have a similar outlook when it comes to his game.”
He signed off by wishing Kohli all the luck, and even more success, and expressed confidence that “he will continue to bring pride and glory to India through cricket. Go Virat!”
The elegant batsman is currently leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, where he is the most run-getter with 201 runs in the 4 matches.
