Wishes pour as Virat Kohli celebrates 30th birthday in Haridwar with Anushka Sharma
New Delhi: Virat Kohli on Monday turned 30 at the country's Devbhoomi and the cricket community celebrated its festival of festivals with gusto, showering accolades while wishing the man who is fast attaining the status of a deity.
A batsman par excellence with a plethora of records to his name, Kohli is spending his birthday with wife Anushka Sharma in Haridwar.
If sources are to be believed, the couple itinerary also includes a day of river-rafting and camping in Rishikesh which will be followed by a visit to Anant Dham Atmabodh Ashram, headed by Maharaj Anant Baba, who is Anushka's family's spiritual guru, according to a report by India Today.
The Bollywood actor visits the Ashram regularly and takes the blessings of her guru before every auspicious occasion. The last time she visited the Ashram was before her wedding in Italy in December 2017.
It began with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as accolades and wishes poured in thick and fast as the Indian captain entered the 30s.
"Wishing you a lot of success and happiness in the year ahead. Happy Birthday, @imVkohli!," Tendulkar wrote on his twitter handle.
Wishing you a lot of success and happiness in the year ahead. Happy Birthday, @imvkohli! pic.twitter.com/HcXX88rXJn
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 5, 2018
Kohli's better half, Anushka Sharma, said, "Thank God for his birth."
Thank God for his birth ðŸ˜ðŸ™â¤âœ¨ pic.twitter.com/SzeodVBzum
— Anushka Sharma (@AnushkaSharma) November 5, 2018
The BCCI posted, "To many more match-winning knocks, here's wishing #TeamIndia Captain and Run Machine @imVkohli a very happy birthday."
#HappyBirthdayVirat
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 5, 2018
Wishes galore for the Indian captain from the team as he celebrates his 30th Birthday. Here's to many more match-winning moments and ðŸ†ðŸ† in the cabinet.
Full video here - https://t.co/MCnjtfoIuD pic.twitter.com/Yr83r8LPyS
"Wishing @imVkohli lots of success and fulfilment in the coming year," wrote VVS Laxman.
Wishing @imVkohli lots of success and fulfilment in the coming year. #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/2zuTK0mpOz
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) November 5, 2018
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag said, "On this Dhanteras, wish you a year that is again filled with Runteras. #HappyBirthdayVirat."
On this Dhanteras, wish you a year that is again filled with Runteras. #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/f09gppLZON
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 5, 2018
Fans, cricketers -- past and present -- all took to Twitter to wish the run-machine.
Mohammad Shami said, "Many many happy returns of the day bro."
Many many happy returns of the day bro 🎂🎂 @imVkohli @ESPNcricinfo @circleofcricket pic.twitter.com/5AFMtiN7UV
— Mohammad Shami (@MdShami11) November 4, 2018
"Happy Birthday brother @imVkohli ! Wish you a wonderful year ahead...! Love and goodwishes!" Wriddhiman Saha wrote.
Happy Birthday brother @imVkohli ! Wish you a wonderful year ahead...! Love and goodwishes! pic.twitter.com/RGwR5KlpDh
— Wriddhiman Saha (@Wriddhipops) November 4, 2018
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif tweeted, "With a magic stick in his hand, he brings us all to a standstill. A man who is redefining consistency and hunger to do well, wish you the very best times ahead @imVkohli and have a#HappyBirthdayVirat."
With a magic stick in his hand, he brings us all to a standstill. A man who is redefining consistency and hunger to do well, wish you the very best times ahead @imVkohli and have a#HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/WffHL4VBKj
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 4, 2018
Another former India batsman Vinod Kambli said, "The man who does things just like his name suggests. Happy Birthday @imvkohli."
The man who does things just like his name suggests. Happy Birthday @imvkohli. #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/g3HpZ0G36E
— VINOD KAMBLI (@vinodkambli349) November 5, 2018
Suresh Raina wrote, "Cricket Samrat, Happy Birthday Virat! Have a good one buddy!.
Cricket Samrat, Happy Birthday Virat!
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) November 5, 2018
Have a good one buddy! @imVKohli #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/oNwSEiXoIQ
Ace spinner Harbhajan Singh tweeted, "Happy birthday to you brother @imVkohli! Hope to see you break more records and smash more tons this year! God bless : stay happy #HappyBirthdayVirat."
Happy birthday to you brother @imVkohli! Hope to see you break more records and smash more tons this year! God bless : stay happy #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/UV0IBkl4au
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 5, 2018
Teammate Cheteshwar Pujara said, "Wish you a very happy birthday @imVkohli! Hope this year brings you more success and loads of happiness."
Wish you a very happy birthday @imVkohli! Hope this year brings you more success and loads of happiness. #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/9NPaH0x78d
— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) November 5, 2018
Afghanistan's ace spinner Rashid Khan, "Sending you smiles for every moment of your special dayHave a wonderful time and a very happy birthday!"
“Sending you smiles for every moment of your special day…Have a wonderful time and a very happy birthday!” @imVkohli ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ‘ðŸ»ðŸ˜ŠðŸ˜ŠðŸ˜ŠðŸŽ‰ðŸŽ‰ðŸŽ‚🎂🎂 pic.twitter.com/5lCdQQTcrS
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) November 5, 2018
The big 30! Happy bday my friend. Hope it’s one very special day🎉@imVkohli
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) November 5, 2018
India's charismatic leader.
— ICC (@ICC) November 5, 2018
The fastest man to 10,000 ODI runs.
The fastest man to 2,000 T20I runs.
Without a doubt one of the finest batsmen today in all three formats.
Happy 30th birthday to the brilliant @imvKohli! pic.twitter.com/V2kcQBBNCY
Focus and determination have always defined you and you only continue to inspire us every single day. Wish you a very happy birthday @imVkohli bhaiya. 🎉ðŸ'¯ - May you continue to pile up the runs and always show us the way forward. ðŸ¤-🙌 #HappyBirthdayVirat 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/jwbaTV1Et4
— Washington Sundar (@Sundarwashi5) November 5, 2018
Happy birthday 🎠🎂 @imVkohli bhaiya Have a Great one 🤙 pic.twitter.com/2Ae4Zm2LXu
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) November 5, 2018
A very happy birthday bro @imVkohli Hope you have a great one and may god shower you with a lot of happiness and success. pic.twitter.com/CTdXAyizTp
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) November 5, 2018
Wishing loads of happiness and success to @imVkohli. May you have a great year ahead! pic.twitter.com/LRr9HSpwAD
— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) November 5, 2018
Many happy returns of the day @imVkohli . Have a wonderful year ahead, may you continue to dominate the international cricket and have the same enthusiasm to perform. God bless! #HappyBirthdayVirat pic.twitter.com/6TI0d86gyL
— Pragyan Prayas Ojha (@pragyanojha) November 5, 2018
Recently, Kohli became the fastest batsman to score 10,000 ODI runs. The Indian captain achieved the milestone in just 205 innings, bettering Sachin Tendulkar's previous record of 259 innings.