Virat Kohli Sets New IPL Record for Most Fifty-Plus Scores

Virat Kohli Breaks IPL Record

Mullanpur (Punjab) [India] - On April 20, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batsman Virat Kohli surpassed Australian cricket star David Warner to become the player with the highest number of fifty-plus scores in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.

Kohli achieved this remarkable feat during a match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur.

In his innings, Virat scored an impressive 73 not out off 54 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six. This marked his fourth fifty in just eight innings this season, with a strike rate of 135.19.

This achievement brought his total to 67 fifty-plus scores in the IPL, which includes eight centuries. He has accumulated 8,326 runs at an average of 39.27 and a strike rate of 132.26, with his highest score being 113 not out.

Warner previously held the record with 66 fifty-plus scores, which included four half-centuries. Shikhar Dhawan ranks third with 53 fifty-plus scores, featuring two centuries.

In this IPL season, Kohli has excelled in run-chases, scoring 59 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), 62 not out against Rajasthan Royals (RR), and 73 not out against Punjab Kings (PBKS). He currently stands as the third-highest run-scorer this season and the leading run-scorer for RCB, amassing 322 runs in eight innings at an average of 64.40 and a strike rate of 140.00, including four half-centuries.

Virat's strong performance against Punjab Kings has been consistent, with his last five scores against them being 59, 77, 92, 1, and 50 not out. Against PBKS, he has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 36.80 across 34 innings, including one century and six fifties, with his best score being 113 not out.

In the match, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first. After a solid opening partnership of 42 runs from Priyansh Arya (22 runs off 15 balls) and Prabhsimran Singh (33 runs off 17 balls), the PBKS batting lineup struggled against RCB's spinners, Krunal (2/25) and Suyash Sharma (2/26). A late partnership of 43 runs between Marco Jansen (25 not out off 20 balls) and Shashank Singh (31 not out off 33 balls) helped PBKS reach a total of 157/6 in their 20 overs.

During the chase for 158 runs, RCB lost Phil Salt early, but half-centuries from Virat Kohli (73 not out off 54 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (61 runs off 35 balls) led RCB to a convincing seven-wicket victory with seven balls remaining.

This victory allowed RCB to avenge their earlier five-wicket defeat to PBKS at their home ground, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, marking their fifth win of the season. They currently sit in third place with five wins, three losses, and 10 points, while PBKS is in fourth place with the same win-loss record.