Tag: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli continues to redefine consistency in T20 cricket, achieving yet another unique milestone to his name during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

On Thursday night, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter became the first cricketer in history to score 3,500 T20 runs at a single venue, the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The landmark moment came during RCB’s IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals, where the 36-year-old produced yet another classic knock.

He struck a fluent 70 off 42 balls, laced with eight boundaries and a couple of sixes. This innings also marked his fifth half-century of the season.

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While Virat Kohli already owned the record for the most T20 runs at a single ground, this latest feat puts him in a league of his own. No batter in the format’s history has crossed the 3,500-run mark at one venue before.

Most T20 runs at a single venue:

• 3,556 – Virat Kohli (M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru)
• 3,373 – Mushfiqur Rahim (Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur)
• 3,253 – James Vince (Rose Bowl, Southampton)
• 3,241 – Alex Hales (Trent Bridge, Nottingham)
• 3,238 – Tamim Iqbal (Sher-e-Bangla Stadium, Mirpur)

This season has been a resurgent one for Kohli. With 392 runs under his belt already, he’s currently second on the Orange Cap leaderboard and remains RCB’s leading run-scorer.

His five fifties so far put him level with Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan for the most 50+ scores in IPL 2025.

READ: Nida Dar takes break from cricket to focus on mental health

Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli etched his name in the record books once again, becoming the first Asian and overall second cricketer to score 100 half-centuries in T20 cricket.

The right-hander batter reached the milestone in his 405th T20, scoring 62* off 45 balls, leading his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Benglaluru to a comfortable victory against Rajistan Royals.

Virat Kohli reached the milestone in style with a six off Wanindu Hasaranga to complete his third fifty of the season in 39 balls while chasing 174.

The other batter with more half-centuries than Virat Kohli is David Warner, topping the list with 108 fifties in 400 matches.

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Most Half-Centuries in T20 Career:

• David Warner – 108 fifties (400 matches)
• Virat Kohli – 100 fifties (405 matches)
• Babar Azam – 90 fifties (311 matches)
• Chris Gayle – 88 fifties (463 matches)
• Jos Buttler – 86 fifties (440 matches)

Earlier this week, Virat Kohli became the first Indian batter to score over 13,000 runs in T20 cricket during a match against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

With this remarkable achievement, the former captain of India joined an elite group, becoming the fifth player overall to reach this milestone, following Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Shoaib Malik, and Kieron Pollard.

It is pertinent to mention that the 36-year-old has represented the Indian team in 125 T20Is, amassing 4188 runs with a staggering average of 48.69.

The run-machine scored 38 fifties and one century in his T20I career before retiring after the Men in Blue’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024.

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Virat Kohli achieved another significant milestone in his remarkable career on Monday by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score over 13,000 runs in T20 cricket.

The Indian stalwart achieved the milestone during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s high-octane IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium.

The star batter needed just 17 runs going into the match and ended up crafting a match-winning 67 off 42 deliveries, peppered with 10 boundaries, including two sixes.

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With this knock, the 36-year-old became only the fifth batter in men’s T20 history to breach the 13,000-run mark.

He joined an elite club featuring Chris Gayle, Shoaib Malik, Kieron Pollard, and Alex Hales. Among these, Kohli stands second on the list of fastest to reach the landmark, doing so in 386 innings — just five more than Gayle’s 381.

It’s worth noting that Gayle holds the record for the most runs in T20 cricket, with 14562 runs, followed by Hales with 13610 and Malik with 13557.

Fastest to 13,000 runs in men’s T20s

• Chris Gayle – 381 innings
• Virat Kohli – 386 innings
• Alex Hales – 474 innings
• Shoaib Malik – 487 innings
• Kieron Pollard – 594 innings

Kohli’s knock proved vital as RCB edged past Mumbai Indians by 12 runs to script their first win at the Wankhede in over a decade.

The breakthrough victory was also powered by Krunal Pandya’s sensational four-wicket haul, helping Bengaluru defend their total and snap the Wankhede jinx.

The win pushed RCB to third place in the IPL 2025 standings with six points from four matches, while Mumbai Indians continued to struggle — sitting at eighth with just two points in five games.

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The long-running debate between Babar Azam and Virat Kohli has once again resurfaced, this time with former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter and renowned commentator Ian Smith offering his verdict.

According to Smith, the head-to-head battle between the two modern-day greats has tilted in Kohli’s favour in recent times.

For the past six years, the Babar vs. Kohli debate has been a staple discussion in the cricketing world. Both batters have been the backbone of their respective teams, showcasing immense skill and consistency.

Their similar batting techniques often draw comparisons, with fans and experts alike offering their takes on who holds the upper hand.

Ian Smith, in his latest article analyzing Pakistan cricket’s struggles, became the newest voice to join the discussion.

“They [Pakistan] throw Babar Azam up against Virat Kohli, as king against king. But of late, Virat is winning that head-to-head,” Smith wrote.

Beyond individual comparisons, Smith also delved into the structural issues affecting Pakistan cricket, highlighting two major factors—limited earning opportunities for players and constant instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

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He pointed out that Pakistan cricketers are unable to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or other franchises heavily influenced by Indian ownership, which restricts their financial growth and exposure to top-level T20 competition.

“Pakistan players can’t play in the IPL and earn those riches, or in fact, many of the leagues around the world which are principally Indian-owned,” Smith noted.

The former New Zealand cricketer also emphasized the volatile nature of the Pakistan cricket administration, citing frequent personnel changes as a key reason behind the team’s inconsistency.

“It’s a volatile environment, Pakistan cricket. They’ve had more personnel changes amongst the board, the administrators, the selectors, coaches, and players than you can poke a stick at,” he wrote.

To illustrate his point, Smith threw out a challenge, highlighting the rapid captaincy changes Pakistan has undergone in recent years.

“I’ll challenge you and your mates over a few beers at any stage—name the last 10 Pakistan captains, and I’ll wager you’ll only have to go back seven years or so to line them all up. It is a veritable revolving door of world cricket.”

READ: Mohammad Wasim Jr. wary of New Zealand challenge after injury return

DUBAI: India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli shared his thoughts following the Men in Blue’s hard-fought victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Kohli, played a pivotal role in the Indian team’s undefeated run in the tournament, scoring 218 runs in five innings, including a masterful knock against arch-rivals Pakistan.

While no immediate retirement announcements were made, the iconic batter noted that the Indian team is in excellent hands following their victory against the Black Caps.

“It’s been amazing, we wanted to bounce back after a tough Australia tour. Lovely playing with a bunch of amazing youngsters. They’re stepping up and taking India in the right direction,” he said.

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“After playing for so long, you look forward to playing under pressure. To win titles, the whole team has to step up in different games.”

“People have played such impactful knocks and had spells, that collective effort is what has done it for us,” added Kohli.

The right-hander shed light on his experience of playing for so long, mentioning the lessons learned.

“I try to speak to these guys, try to share my experience, tell them how I’ve played for so long,” he explained.

“When you leave, you want to leave in a better position. So many impactful knocks Gill, Shreyas, Rahul, et al have played.” Kohli stated.

He elaborated on Team India’s strategy and conveyed his best wishes for New Zealand stalwart Kane Williamson.

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“The team is in good hands. We’ve always been in awe of what NZ can do with limited no. of players. They come in with a set plan. Every fielder knows where the bowler will bowl.”

“They have immense belief in their skills, best fielding side. Huge shoutout to them. Sad to see a very good friend (Kane Williamson) on the losing side, only love between us,” concluded Kohli.

Read: Dominant India thump New Zealand to lift 2025 Champions Trophy

Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli is on the brink of rewriting history as he gears up for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, set to take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Having already notched up a century and a match-winning fifty in the tournament, Kohli is now within touching distance of multiple records.

If he scores 55 runs in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, he will surpass Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history.

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Currently, Kohli has 14,180 runs in 301 ODIs, while Sangakkara sits at 14,234 from 404 matches.

The only player ahead of them is the great Sachin Tendulkar, who leads the charts with a staggering 18,426 runs.

All-time Leading Run-Scorers in ODI cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 18,426 runs
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 14,234 runs
• Virat Kohli (India) – 14,180 runs
• Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 13,704 runs
• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 13,430 runs

But that’s not the only milestone in Kohli’s sights. The Indian star is also chasing Chris Gayle’s record for the most runs in Champions Trophy history.

Kohli, who currently has 746 runs in 17 matches, needs just 47 more to surpass Gayle, who leads the tally with 791 runs in 17 appearances.

READ: Former Pakistan cricketer takes a dig at Babar Azam’s father over ‘coaching’ claims

DUBAI: India batting maestro Virat Kohli made history on Sunday in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against New Zealand, becoming the first player in international cricket to play 300 ODIs, 100 Tests, and 100 T20Is.

The talismanic batter appeared in his 300th ODI, adding another feather to his cap in an illustrious career.

Notably, the right-hander became the seventh Indian and 18th player globally to feature in 300 ODIs.

Among Indian players, who achieved this feat include former greats Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Azharuddin, Rahul Dravid, and MS Dhoni.

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He is followed by Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara.

Most matches for India in ODIs

Sachin Tendulkar — 463 matches
MS Dhoni — 347 matches
Rahul Dravid — 340 matches
Mohammad Azharuddin — 334 matches
Sourav Ganguly — 308 matches
Yuvraj Singh — 301 matches
Virat Kohli — 300* matches

Furthermore, Kohli achieved a unique record, becoming the first player to play 100 Tests, 100 T20Is, and 300 ODIs. While 18 cricketers have played 300 ODIs, none have completed a century of matches in both Tests and T20Is.

Notably, on 23 February, Kohli became the fastest player to achieve the 14,000-run mark in the ODI format in the match against arch-rivals Pakistan.

He surpassed the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s record, achieving the milestone in fewer innings.

Virat Kohli achieved the feat in his 287th innings, significantly faster than Tendulkar, who reached the landmark in his 350th innings during a match against Pakistan in Peshawar back in 2006.

Read: Champions Trophy: Chakaravarthy’s five-fer rattles New Zealand as India tops Group A

DUBAI: New Zealand allrounder Glenn Phillips pulled off an incredible one-handed catch to dismiss India batting maestro Virat Kohli during their Champions Trophy 2025 match here at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

In the final group-stage game, after choosing to bowl, New Zealand effectively limited the strong batting lineup of India to 249 runs for 9 wickets in their 50 overs with excellent bowling and outstanding fielding.

Kohli, who came to bat after the early dismissal of Shubman Gill in the third over, started his innings strongly, scoring 11 runs off 14 balls with two fours. However, his innings was cut short by Phillips’ remarkable fielding.

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The brilliant catch occurred in the seventh over when Kohli sent a short and wide delivery from Matt Henry towards the point region.

Glenn Phillips made an impressive leap to catch the ball, which had initially passed him. Both Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma, who was watching from the stands, were visibly surprised when they saw the replay as he walked back to the dressing room.

 

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It’s important to note that the winner of this match would lead Group A and advance to face Australia, the second-placed team in Group B, in the semi-finals.

The losing team would compete against South Africa in the next stage of the tournament.

Read: Champions Trophy: Matt Henry’s five-wicket haul restricts India to 249 against New Zealand

India batting maestro Virat Kohli is on the verge of achieving multiple milestones in ODI cricket during the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash against New Zealand, set to be played on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Kohli, who scored a brilliant century against Pakistan, will be eyeing West Indian explosive batter Chris Gayle’s record of most runs in the multi-nation tournament.

India top order batter needs to score at least 142 runs against the New Zealand to become the leading run scorer in the tournament history.

Most runs in Champions Trophy:

• Chris Gayle (West Indies)  17 matches — 791 runs
• Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) 22 matches — 742 runs
• Shikhar Dhawan (India)  10 matches — 701
• Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) 22 matches — 683
• Sourav Ganguly (India) 13 matches — 665
• Jacques Kallis (South Africa) 17 matches — 653
• Virat Kohli (India) 15 matches — 651

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Furthermore, the right-handed batter has the opportunity to achieve another milestone by surpassing his compatriot Shikhar Dhawan’s record, thus becoming Team India’s highest scorer in the multi-nation tournament. He needs to score 51 runs to break this record.

Most runs for Indian in Champions Trophy:

• Shikhar Dhawan 10 matches — 701 runs
• Sourav Ganguly 13 matches — 665
• Virat Kohli 15 matches — 651 runs

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Kohli became the fastest batter to score 14,000 ODI runs on Sunday (23 February) during India’s match against arch-rivals Pakistan. He could also become the second leading run scorer in ODI cricket if he scores at least 150 runs against New Zealand.

Virat Kohli will shatter Kumar Sangakkara’s record and become the second leading run scorer in ODIs.

Most runs in ODI Cricket

1. Sachin Tendulkar India 463 matches — 18,426
2. Kumar Sangakkara Sri Lanka 404 matches — 14,234
3. Virat Kohli India 299 matches — 14,085

READ: South Africa outclass England to march into Champions Trophy semis

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has heaped praise on Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, comparing his dedication and work ethic to football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Speaking to an Indian journalist in Lahore on Thursday, Amir highlighted how Kohli’s commitment to fitness, discipline, and overall lifestyle makes him a role model beyond just his on-field performances.

“Why do people love Ronaldo? Why do they love Messi? If I talk about Ronaldo, especially, look at his lifestyle. Look at his work ethic and his fitness. He is a complete package. Likewise, Virat Kohli is a complete package,” Amir said.

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The former left-arm quick emphasized that admiration for athletes like Kohli transcends borders, pointing out that even in Pakistan, the Indian batter has a huge fan following.

“Why is he a role model for many, even in Pakistan? The country doesn’t matter. Whether he is from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, or England—a role model can be from anywhere,” he added.

Mohammad Amir went on to state that Kohli is the best batter of this generation and that every young batter should look up to him as a role model.

“For this generation, Virat Kohli is an inspiration. All those youngsters who want to be cricketers, who want to be batters, should follow Virat Kohli’s footsteps,” he further added.

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Amir also shared that he wasn’t surprised to learn that Kohli arrived for training a full 90 minutes before the rest of the squad ahead of the high-voltage India-Pakistan ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash.

“Virat Kohli is a player for whom age doesn’t matter. His work ethic doesn’t change depending on his form,” Amir said.

“He came 90 minutes before training on the eve of the India vs Pakistan match. Virat Kohli has lived the best life. He might play two or more years in international cricket, but his work ethic is still top-notch. There’s no doubting his ability and work ethics,” he concluded.

READ: Jos Buttler opens up on captaincy future after Afghanistan loss in Champions Trophy 2025