Virat Kohli has done it again. Just when cricket fans think there are no records left for him, he finds a new way to surprise everyone. During Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s commanding win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kohli created a historic feat.
Many great players have come and gone in the IPL, but Kohli continues to stand tall.
Virat Kohli Sets New Standard, First Player to Reach Special IPL Milestone
The RCB’s batting great became the first batter in IPL history to complete 9,000 runs. There was something poetic about this milestone happening in Delhi. This is the city where Kohli learned the game, built his aggressive mindset, and began dreaming of playing for India. Years later, he returned to the same city and created history in front of home fans.
Playing his 275th IPL match, Kohli needed only a few runs to reach the landmark. He got there in the sixth over of RCB’s chase. Facing Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel, Kohli calmly pushed the ball to long-off for a single. It looked like a simple run, but it carried huge meaning.
With that single, Kohli became the first player in IPL history to cross 9000 runs.
That moment says everything about Kohli. No drama. No wild celebration. Just focus, control, and another record added to his legendary name.
Since the IPL started in 2008, Kohli has been one of the biggest faces of the tournament. While many stars changed teams, retired, or lost form, Kohli remained the constant force.
He has represented only one franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In modern franchise cricket, staying with one team for so long and dominating year after year is rare.
His 9000 runs are not built on one magical season. They are built on years of excellence. He has delivered in different conditions, against world-class bowlers, and under massive pressure.
The Gap Between Virat Kohli and Everyone Else
The updated IPL all-time run list now shows how far ahead Kohli is:
Virat Kohli – 9000 runs*
Rohit Sharma – 7183 runs*
Shikhar Dhawan – 6769 runs
Only Rohit Sharma has crossed 7000 apart from him, and even that gap is massive. Reaching 9000 in a tournament as competitive as the IPL is extraordinary. This record may stand for years.
Brilliant Form in IPL 2026
Kohli’s season is not about one milestone alone. He has been one of the best players in IPL 2026 so far.
As of April 28, he has scored 351 runs in 8 matches at an average of 58.50 and a strike rate of 162.50. Those numbers prove that Kohli is not slowing down. In fact, he looks sharper than ever.
READ MORE: Sanju Samson Surpasses MS Dhoni to Create New IPL Record
His best knock came against Gujarat Titans when he smashed 81 from just 44 balls. That innings showed power, timing, control, and intent. He also leads the tournament in boundaries, with 37 fours.
That stat matters because it shows Kohli is not just surviving. He is attacking and dominating. At 37, many players begin fading. Kohli looks hungry as ever.
He still runs hard between the wickets. He still chases balls in the field. He still celebrates wickets with the energy of a debutant. Most importantly, he still bats with the same passion that made fans fall in love with him years ago.
Virat Kohli has already secured his place among cricket’s all-time greats. But what makes him different is that he never stops pushing forward. As thing stand, he scored 9012 runs in 275 games including eight centuries and 66 fifties.
Virat Kohli is the fourth-leading run-getter in this edition’s IPL. The former RCB captain scored 351 runs at an average of 58.50 and a strike rate of 162.50. Meanwhile, RCB are second on the table with six wins and two defeats.
The Bengaluru-based franchise will lock horns with Gujarat Titans on April 30 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
