Virat Kohli Eyes 400 Runs Milestone in IPL 2026
Kohli Approaches 400 Runs in IPL 2026
Virat Kohli, the iconic batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is just 72 runs shy of reaching the 400-run milestone in the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). This achievement would mark the 11th time he has crossed this threshold in 19 seasons. At 37 years old, Kohli remains a pivotal player for his team, having scored 328 runs at an impressive average of 54.66 across seven matches. He ranks among the top run scorers this season and is currently positioned as the sixth-highest run scorer in IPL 2026. If he manages to score 53 runs in the upcoming match against Delhi Capitals, he could reclaim the Orange Cap.
During the initial three seasons of the IPL from 2008 to 2010, Kohli did not achieve the 400-run mark. However, he bounced back in 2011, finishing as the second-highest run scorer with 557 runs. Notably, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and Suresh Raina are the only players who have surpassed 400 runs in nine seasons, making them Kohli's closest competitors in this elite category.
Kohli's Leadership Fuels RCB's Success
Kohli Leading RCB's Batting From Front
This season, RCB's batting lineup has thrived, largely due to strong performances from the top order, with Kohli at the helm. The return of Devdutt Padikkal has further strengthened the batting depth and consistency. The middle order has also been instrumental in securing victories for the team.
However, RCB's threat extends beyond their batting capabilities. Their bowlers have shown the ability to control games during critical moments, which will be essential against a Delhi Capitals team known for posting high scores. In their recent match against Gujarat Titans, RCB's bowlers displayed remarkable composure, executing their plans effectively to restrict scoring opportunities, even when GT was in a strong position.
RCB's bowling unit, featuring Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood, combined variations with disciplined lines to thwart a late-game surge from their opponents. This performance has contributed to RCB's growing reputation as a team capable of closing out matches, a challenge that DC has struggled with. Despite DC's impressive batting display, scoring 264/2, their bowling weaknesses were exposed when Punjab Kings successfully chased down the target. RCB will look to exploit these vulnerabilities and apply pressure on DC at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the same venue that witnessed a high-scoring encounter between Delhi and Punjab on April 25.
Squads for the Upcoming Match
Squads
Delhi Capitals: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul(w), Nitish Rana, David Miller, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi Dar, Vipraj Nigam, Lungi Ngidi, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson, Rehan Ahmed, Prithvi Shaw, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Madhav Tiwari
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Venkatesh Iyer, Philip Salt, Jacob Duffy, Nuwan Thushara, Abhinandan Singh, Swapnil Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Kanishk Chouhan, Satvik Deswal