In what was another remarkable chapter in an already legendary T20 career, Virat Kohli etched his name even deeper into the history books. The milestone came during Match 20 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, played on April 7 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. At 36, Kohli once again proved why he’s regarded as one of the greatest batters of the modern era, showing class, consistency, and hunger that refuse to fade.
A T20 milestone achieved on a grand stage of IPL
Kohli reached the 13,000-run landmark in T20 cricket when he crossed 17 runs in the high-voltage clash against MI. With this, he joined an elite group of T20 legends including Chris Gayle, Alex Hales, Shoaib Malik, and Kieron Pollard- all of whom have scored over 13,000 runs in the shortest format of the game. However, Kohli became the first Indian cricketer ever to reach this milestone, making the moment even more iconic for Indian cricket.
Kohli achieved the milestone in just 386 innings from 403 matches, making him the second-fastest batter in the world to accomplish this feat. The only man ahead of him is the indomitable Chris Gayle, who reached 13,000 runs in just 381 innings during a Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2019 match for the Jamaica Tallawahs against the Barbados Tridents. Kohli’s consistency has been unmatched – he reached the 13,000-run mark well ahead of others like Alex Hales (474 innings), Shoaib Malik (487 innings) and Kieron Pollard (594 innings).
This achievement also highlights Kohli’s incredible longevity and adaptability in T20 cricket. From domestic tournaments like the IPL to the glitzy T20 World Cups, Kohli has conquered every stage with trademark elegance and fighting spirit.
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Kohli’s recent form in IPL 2025 for RCB
Despite in his last stage of cricketing career, Kohli continues to dominate T20 cricket. His form in IPL 2025 has been steady and impactful. In the opening match of the tournament against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens, Kohli smashed a fluent 59 off 36 balls, decorated with four boundaries and three sixes. He guided RCB to chase down 175 with 22 balls to spare, showcasing that he’s still among the best finishers in the game. He followed that with a gritty 31 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on a tough Chepauk pitch, contributing significantly to RCB’s emphatic 50-run win.
Kohli has evolved from a talented teenager to a global batting powerhouse, setting standards with his unmatched fitness, mental toughness, and relentless pursuit of excellence. With 9 T20 centuries, including 8 in the IPL, Kohli also holds the record for the most T20 hundreds by an Indian. His ability to construct innings, chase under pressure, and perform consistently in high-stakes games has made him a role model for upcoming cricketers worldwide.
