Virat Kohli etched his name into IPL history by becoming the first batter to reach 800 fours in the league’s long timeline, while Sai Sudharsan anchored Gujarat Titans with a composed century as the visitors posted 205/3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday.
Kohli makes history with 800 fours
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star, 37, achieved the milestone during the IPL 2026 clash versus Gujarat Titans. Kohli’s first boundary of the innings came off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada, sparking a moment that added to an already decorated career.
- Kohli became the first player in IPL history to hit 800 fours.
- Shikhar Dhawan sits second on the all-time fours list with 768.
- David Warner follows with 663, while Rohit Sharma is next with 653.
- Kohli also became the first batter to smash 300 sixes for a single franchise, doing so for RCB.
Gujarat Titans’ innings: Sudharsan’s steady build to 205/3
In response to Kohli’s landmark afternoon, Sudharsan delivered the kind of innings that sets the tone in T20 cricket—calm at the start, then increasingly assertive. The left-handed batter guided Gujarat Titans to a strong total of 205/3 in their IPL 2026 match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
After reaching a hundred off 58 balls, Sudharsan said the innings was not only about getting himself going, but also about finishing in a way that helped the team. He credited how the conditions and communication shaped their approach, describing the wicket as two-paced and “sticky,” which he felt naturally invited deeper batting.
How the century unfolded: challenges, powerplay dominance, and big shots
Sudharsan’s start was not straightforward. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood both found early movement, testing him by beating his outside edge and creating concerns with bounce. A fortunate four off the right moment helped him settle, and once the pitch and pace steadied, he began to accelerate with cleaner timing.
- He was initially troubled by early movement from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.
- A lucky edge for four helped him regain comfort.
- With conditions improving, he started striking with accuracy and found the first six in the fifth over.
- He dominated the powerplay, moving to 41 off 27 balls as Gujarat reached 57/0.
As the match moved into the middle overs, Sudharsan combined aggression with smart strike rotation. He reached his half-century in 33 deliveries, then raised the tempo further by taking on Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya with inventive shot-making, including a daring uppercut for six.
More milestones and Sudharsan’s message about finishing well
The innings carried another record milestone for Sudharsan as well. He became the fastest batter to reach 2000 IPL runs, accomplishing the feat in just 47 innings and surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous benchmark. Even after that celebration, he kept attention on the larger objective—positioning his side well and ensuring the team benefits from his starts.
Reflecting on reaching three figures, Sudharsan explained that high personal standards drive him, and that while he has been getting off to strong starts, finishing has been the area he wants to improve. He also said he did not force the innings to be about taking total control, instead allowing the flow to develop. He further added that, in his view, the score was particularly valuable for the bowlers.
- Sudharsan became the fastest to 2000 IPL runs in 47 innings, breaking Chris Gayle’s record.
- He said his century mattered because it was also about improving how he finishes an innings.
- He noted he didn’t try to seize excessive control and instead let the innings open up naturally.
- He felt the total was a strong one for the bowling unit, given how difficult it can be to play shots when the pitch isn’t true.
