He has moved past 14,000 T20 runs at a quicker rate than Chris Gayle, surpassing a benchmark that stood at 423 innings. He also leads all Indian batters in the format, moving ahead of Rohit Sharma on the all time list.
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The century list keeps expanding. Ten T20 hundreds place him as the first Indian to reach double figures in the format. In the IPL, he has lifted his tally to nine centuries, the most in league history. He shares three successful chase hundreds with Jos Buttler, a reflection of assurance in pursuit when targets come into view.
Longevity defines his IPL story. More than 270 appearances place him at the top of the all-time list, moving beyond MS Dhoni. He has produced more than 9,000 runs in the competition, the highest total recorded. The 2016 season stands alone, 973 runs in a single campaign, still unmatched in IPL history.
He has remained the central figure for Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the top of the order, setting tempo and shaping innings with remarkable consistency.
After two quiet outings, he arrived in Raipur with a reminder of his standing. An unbeaten 105 from 60 deliveries followed, built on clean timing and crisp strokeplay, carrying fluency from start to finish and bringing the chase home with authority.
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Few batters in the history of the IPL have combined output, longevity and influence at this level. On numbers alone and on impact alone, he sits among the finest the tournament has ever produced, if not the finest.
“I just love batting, even after all this. You know, that’s my core feeling. What an honour to be playing at this level. What an honour to be competing with the very best in the world still. This is all I’ve done all my life.”
~ Kohli pic.twitter.com/mE1IFb186d
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) May 14, 2026
Photo: REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary
