Virat Kohli Matches Jos Buttler's IPL Century Record in Chases
Kohli's Remarkable Achievement in IPL History
In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on May 14, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) star batter, Virat Kohli, equaled the record held by England's Jos Buttler for the most centuries scored during chases in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
Kohli reached this milestone while playing against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he scored an impressive 105 runs off 60 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes, achieving a strike rate of 175.00.
This marks Kohli's third century in IPL chases, putting him on par with Buttler.
Throughout his IPL career, Kohli has amassed 4,285 runs in 138 matches and 131 innings while chasing, maintaining an average of 42.42 and a strike rate of 136.42, which includes three centuries and 29 fifties, with a top score of 108*.
In successful chases, he has scored 2,784 runs in 76 matches and 70 innings, averaging 63.27 with a strike rate of 142.69, featuring three centuries and 20 fifties, also with a best score of 108*.
Kohli has consistently been a key player for RCB during significant run-chases, contributing crucial runs in the team's six highest successful chases in IPL history:
- 228 vs LSG, Lucknow, 2025 – Kohli 54(30)
- 206 vs GT, Bengaluru, 2026 – Kohli 81(44)
- 204 vs KXIP, Bengaluru, 2010 – Kohli 16*(12)
- 202 vs SRH, Bengaluru, 2026 – Kohli 69*(38)
- 201 vs GT, Ahmedabad, 2024 – Kohli 70*(44)
- 193 vs KKR, Raipur, 2026 – Kohli 105*(60)
In these innings, he has scored a total of 395 runs at an astounding average of 197.50 and a strike rate exceeding 173, which includes one century and four fifties.
Additionally, Kohli has tied with Rohit Sharma for the most 'Player of the Match' awards among Indian players in IPL, with both having received 21 honors.
In the IPL 2026 run charts, Kohli has surged to third place in the Orange Cap race, accumulating 484 runs in 12 matches at an average of 53.77 and a strike rate of 165.75, including one century and three fifties.
In the match itself, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first, restricting KKR to 48/2 early on. KKR's innings was bolstered by Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 71* off 46 balls and Rinku Singh's 49* off 32 balls, leading them to a total of 192/4 in 20 overs.
Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each took one wicket.
During RCB's chase, Kohli lost his opening partner, Jacob Bethell (15), early on, but formed a solid 92-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, who scored 39 off 27 balls. Kohli's performance was pivotal as RCB successfully chased down the target in 19.1 overs, winning by six wickets.
With this victory, RCB climbed to the top of the table with eight wins and four losses, totaling 16 points. Conversely, KKR, which had been on a four-match unbeaten streak after a series of six winless matches, now faces a significant challenge to secure a playoff spot, making their final three matches crucial.