Virat Kohli Makes IPL History with 4000 Runs in Chases
Kohli's Historic Achievement in IPL 2026
In a remarkable display of skill, Virat Kohli has become the first player in Indian Premier League history to surpass 4000 runs in run chases. This milestone was reached during the opening match of IPL 2026, where the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced off against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Additionally, Kohli has now overtaken former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik to secure his position as the sixth-highest run-scorer in T20 cricket. Malik accumulated a total of 13,571 runs over 557 matches and 515 innings, maintaining an average of 35.99, which includes 83 half-centuries.
In the match itself, Sunrisers Hyderabad bounced back impressively after an early setback, managing to score a competitive total of 201/9 against the reigning champions.
Despite losing three quick wickets during the power play, Ishan Kishan's outstanding performance, along with significant contributions from his teammates, helped Hyderabad surpass the 200-run mark.
Kishan, who stepped in as captain for this match, scored 80 runs off just 38 balls, featuring eight fours and five sixes. Ankiet Verma also made a notable impact with a rapid 43 runs off 18 balls, including three fours and four sixes.
For RCB, Jacob Duffy and Romario Shepherd each took three wickets, with Duffy finishing with figures of 3/22 and Shepherd 3/54. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhinandan Singh, and Suyash Sharma each contributed with a wicket.
In response, Kohli delivered a stellar performance, remaining unbeaten with 69 runs from 38 balls, which included five fours and an equal number of sixes. Devdutt Padikkal, as an Impact Player, added 61 runs off 26 balls, while skipper Rajat Patidar scored a quick 31 runs off 12 balls, leading Bengaluru to victory by four wickets.
This match also marked a record for RCB, as they chased down the 202-run target in just 15.4 overs, setting a new benchmark for the fastest chase of 200-plus runs in IPL history.