Gujarat Titans will look back at their IPL 2026 meeting with Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as a match that slipped away after a simple early error. After posting 205/3, GT suffered a major momentum swing in the first over when Virat Kohli was dropped on a score of zero, setting up a ruthless innings that reshaped the contest.
Key takeaways
- GT posted 205/3 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but a first-over spill changed the tone of the chase.
- Virat Kohli was let off on 0, then converted the reprieve into a fast half-century from 30 balls.
- Kohli finished with 81 off 44 deliveries, striking at 184.09 with eight fours and four sixes.
- It was also a milestone knock for Kohli as he became the first IPL batter to reach 800 fours.
- He brought up the landmark by smashing Kagiso Rabada to the long-on boundary.
Kohli’s early chance turns into a statement innings
Gujarat Titans started brightly, but their advantage was short-lived when Mohammed Siraj delivered the first over and Kohli responded with a flick that was headed toward mid-wicket. Washington Sundar, positioned to take the catch, misjudged the chance and the batter was spared as he walked back to the crease scoreless.
From there, the match tilted quickly. Kohli punished the reprieve with a powerful surge to a fifty off just 30 balls, before accelerating even further. His final tally read 81 runs from 44 balls, featuring eight boundaries to the fence and four maximums, for a strike rate of 184.09.
During his blitz, Kohli also put Jason Holder under pressure, hitting consecutive sixes off him as the pressure mounted for GT. What began as an early fielding lapse turned into a sustained assault that kept the chase moving in RCB’s favour.
First to 800 fours: Kohli’s IPL legacy deepens
The innings carried a historic milestone. With his knock, Kohli became the first player in IPL history to reach 800 fours. The timing was notable too—he reached the mark after being dropped on 799 boundaries, and then celebrated the achievement with a drive off Kagiso Rabada that sailed to the long-on fence.
Since making his debut in 2008, Kohli has represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 274 IPL matches, accumulating 8,915 runs at an average of 39.79. His record also includes 65 half-centuries and eight centuries, alongside the landmark 800-fours total—now extended to 807 fours.
IPL’s leading boundary hitters
The milestone places Kohli at the very top of IPL’s boundary-hitting list. Shikhar Dhawan follows with 768 fours and 6,769 runs in 222 matches across multiple franchises. David Warner is next on 663 fours in 184 games, with 6,565 runs at an average of 40.52. Rohit Sharma sits close to the front as well, having struck 653 fours across 276 matches and scored 7,183 runs.
Other prominent names in the same boundary race underline how prolific Kohli remains in T20 cricket’s most demanding format. Ajinkya Rahane has 522 fours from 205 matches, while Suresh Raina has 506 fours and 5,528 runs from 205 games. Gautam Gambhir has 492 fours in 154 appearances, followed by Robin Uthappa (481 fours), KL Rahul (472 fours), and Suryakumar Yadav (471 fours).
Most fours in Indian Premier League
- Virat Kohli (RCB) — 2008–2026, 274 matches, 8,911 runs, 113 highest score, average 39.95, 800 fours, 703 sixes
- Shikhar Dhawan (DC/DCH/MI/PBKS/SRH) — 2008–2024, 222 matches, 6,769 runs, 106* highest score, average 35.25, 768 fours, 152 sixes
- David Warner (DC/SRH) — 2009–2024, 184 matches, 6,565 runs, 126 highest score, average 40.52, 663 fours, 236 sixes
- Rohit Sharma (DCH/MI) — 2008–2026, 276 matches, 7,187 runs, 109* highest score, average 29.92, 653 fours, 310 sixes
- Ajinkya Rahane (CSK/DC/KKR/MI/RPS/RR) — 2008–2026, 205 matches, 6,418 runs, 105* highest score, average 30.31, 522 fours, 132 sixes
- Suresh Raina (CSK/GL) — 2008–2021, 205 matches, 5,528 runs, 100* highest score, average 32.15, 506 fours, 203 sixes
- Gautam Gambhir (DC/KKR) — 2008–2018, 154 matches, 5,442 runs, 179 highest score, average 31.00, 492 fours, 59 sixes
- Robin Uthappa (CSK/KKR/MI/PWI/RCB/RR) — 2008–2022, 220 matches, 5,095 runs, 80 highest score, average 27.51, 481 fours, 182 sixes
- KL Rahul (DC/KXIP/LSG/PBKS/RCB/SRH) — 2013–2026, 151 matches, 4,271 runs, 132* highest score, average 45.60, 472 fours, 218 sixes
- Suryakumar Yadav (KKR/MI) — 2012–2026, 174 matches, 3,448 runs, 103* highest score, average 34.36, 471 fours, 172 sixes
