Kohli powers to 13000 runs in T20s, anchors RCB with second IPL 2025 fifty

Virat Kohli on Monday became the first Indian to complete 13,000 runs in T20 cricket en route to his second half-century this IPL season.

Reaching the landmark during the Indian Premier League contest between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, Kohli also become only the fifth batter overall to have scored 13,000 runs in the shortest format of the game. The right-handed modern day great achieved the feat in a little over 400 matches in his career.

Kohli had retired from T20 Internationals in the middle of last year after helping India win their second T20 World Cup in the Americas, having played 125 matches to score 4,188 runs with one century and 38 fifties at an average of 48.69 and strike rate of 137.04. He is the third-highest run scorer in T20Is after Rohit Sharma (4,231 runs) and Pakistan`s Babar Azam (4,223).

Rohit is the second in the list among highest run-scorers in overall T20 cricket with 11,851 runs in 451 matches. Overall, Kohli had scored 12,983 runs before the IPL clash on Monday with nine centuries and 98 fifties at an average of 38.93 and strike rate of over 132.

The IPL season-opening contest between RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders on March 23 was Kohli`s 400th game in the shortest format.

Chris Gayle leads the list of highest run-scorers in T20 cricket with 14,562 in 463 matches, followed by Alex Hales at the second spot with 13,610 runs, Shoaib Malik at third with 13,557 runs in 555 matches and Kieron Pollard at the fourth position with 13,537 runs in 695 matches.

Coming to the match, RCB rode on scintillating fifties from Kohli (67) and skipper Rajat Patidar (64) to set a daunting 222-run target.

Kohli ruled the roost with a 42-ball 67 which gave RCB early impetus in Jasprit Bumrah`s (0/29) comeback game. Later on, Patidar`s 32-ball 64 (5x4s, 4x6s) and Jitesh Sharma`s 19-ball 40 (2x4s, 4x6s) ensured the RCB ended at 221 for five.

Phil Salt (4) played across the line to an inswinger from Trent Boult (2/57) which was pitched on the middle stump and was cleaned up on the second ball after crunching the first for a four.

Unfazed by the early blow, RCB recorded their highest powerplay score against Mumbai Indians by scoring 72/1, as both Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal (37 off 22 balls) went all guns blazing.

The momentum had swayed RCB`s way before MI introduced Bumrah in the fourth over, and Kohli welcomed his India teammate with a six over midwicket.

(With PTI inputs)