As the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) declared the Class 10 and 12 results for 2025 earlier this week, an old academic document of cricket icon Virat Kohli re-emerged on social media his Class 10 CBSE marksheet. The document, which was originally shared by IAS officer Jitin Yadav on August 9, 2023, went viral again as millions of students across India viewed their results. With over 42 lakh students receiving their marks this year, including a 96.3% pass rate in Class 10, Kohli’s modest school scores provided a timely reminder that academic performance isn’t the only path to greatness. The marksheet reveals Kohli scored 83 in English (A1 grade) and 81 in Social Science (A2), with a B1 in Hindi. His scores in Science and Introductory IT — C1 and C2 respectively reflected a more average academic profile. In his original post, Yadav wrote: “Had marks been the sole factor, the entire nation wouldn’t be rallying behind him now. Passion and Dedication are the key.”

The sentiment resonated widely. As one user aptly commented, “Marks are merely numbers on a sheet – true value lies in perseverance and dedication.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL player?Kohli, who recently retired from Test cricket after a 14-year run that saw him amass 9230 runs in 123 matches, continues to inspire not only through his sporting achievements but through his journey from a Delhi schoolboy to a global cricketing icon. With CBSE now adopting a ‘Relative Grading’ system to reduce stress and over-competition among students, Kohli’s resurfacing marksheet serves as a powerful example that one’s career and character are not defined by early report cards but by what comes after.