Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Virat Kohli added another defining moment to IPL history as the India batting icon became the first batter to reach 9,000 runs in the league. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan captured the essence of Kohli’s impact perfectly, pointing to the idea that the toughest challenge for the RCB star is ultimately the RCB star himself. Kohli not only reached the landmark but did so in familiar surroundings—during RCB’s clash with Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium, the venue where his cricket journey began.
In the match, Kohli guided the chase with a calm, finishing touch. RCB’s target was chased down with ease as Kohli struck two consecutive sixes to close the distance quickly, ending unbeaten on 23 off 15 balls. His finishing spell included a boundary as well, with his strike rate reading 153.33 as RCB got the job done.
As the milestone landed, Irfan took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his admiration. He wrote that there is only one person who can truly test Virat at his own level—and that is Virat Kohli himself. Irfan’s message stressed that in the IPL, the “9000-run Mount Everest” is not the final summit for Kohli, but simply another stop along the way.
Numbers reinforce the scale of Kohli’s achievement. He has amassed 9,012 runs across 275 IPL appearances, and has played 267 innings at an average of 40.05 with a strike rate of 133.05. His run tally includes eight centuries and 66 half-centuries, with a highest score of 113*.
With the innings against DC, Kohli’s season momentum also moved into sharper focus. He is now fourth in the race for the Orange Cap, having collected 351 runs in eight innings at an average of 58.50. His strike rate sits at 162.50, featuring three fifties, and his best score so far in the campaign is 81.
RCB’s success over Delhi also reshaped the standings. The victory was their sixth win in eight matches, lifting them to 12 points and keeping them placed second in the points table. For DC, it was their fifth defeat of the season, bringing them to a seventh-place position—despite having managed three wins so far.
