Sports Desk – Virat Kohli fans might actually “blame” the Delhi Capitals for not giving them enough time to watch their idol at the crease yesterday.
In a one-sided affair, Delhi Capitals registered the lowest powerplay score in IPL history (13/6) and were bundled out for just 75 runs.
Chasing the meager total, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a clinical 9-wicket victory, with Kohli remaining unbeaten on 23.
In the process of guiding his team to victory, Kohli achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first player in IPL history to reach 9,000 runs.
The Journey to 9,000
Kohli entered the match against Delhi with 8,989 runs from 266 innings. The historic moment arrived on the final ball of the sixth over, when he took a single off Delhi spinner Axar Patel to reach the 9,000-run mark.
Following this innings, Kohli’s tally stands at 9,012 runs in 275 matches (267 innings). He has consistently been the “trendsetter” for scoring milestones in the league:
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6,000 Runs: Achieved in 2021
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7,000 Runs: Achieved in 2023
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8,000 Runs: Achieved in 2024
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9,000 Runs: Achieved in 2026
Dominance Over Rivals
The gap between Kohli and other legendary batsmen highlights his unprecedented consistency. Rohit Sharma follows in second place with 7,183 runs from 276 matches—trailing Kohli by a massive 1,829 runs despite both starting their IPL careers in 2008.
Top Run-Scorers in IPL History:
| Player | Matches | Innings | Runs |
| Virat Kohli | 275 | 267 | 9,012 |
| Rohit Sharma | 276 | 271 | 7,183 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 222 | 221 | 6,769 |
| David Warner | 184 | 184 | 6,565 |
| KL Rahul | 153 | 144 | 5,580 |
The Record-Breaker
Kohli doesn’t just lead in total runs; he also tops the charts for the most centuries (8), most fifties (66), and most fours (808). While he currently trails Rohit Sharma (310) in the six-hitting department with 305 sixes, they are the only two players in the top five to have crossed the 300-six mark.
In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, the race for the Orange Cap is intensifying. Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma leads with 380 runs, while Kohli sits in fourth place with 351 runs from 8 innings.
Notably, Kohli maintains the highest batting average among the top five scorers this season, currently standing at 58.50.