Virat Kohli reached the 9,000-run mark in the IPL on Monday in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match versus Delhi Capitals. He brought up the milestone with consecutive sixes and then carried that momentum through the innings. From here, the next landmark—10,000 runs—remains a distant stretch for most of the other players currently operating in the competition’s top tier, and even those placed within the top five on the run-scoring list. While Kohli’s age, now 37, has sparked debate about how long he can keep going, former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan is confident the batting great can still get there without any doubt.
McClenaghan also praised Kohli’s steady output after Bengaluru produced a convincing nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2026 meeting. The match was played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, and RCB’s dominance was shaped early by a sharp new-ball burst from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Together, they dismantled Delhi’s batting effort and bowled the opposition out for 75—the lowest team total of the season so far. With the target sitting comfortably within reach, Bengaluru completed the chase with ease, underscoring their strength across departments.
Looking specifically at how Kohli has maintained top-level standards over the years, McClenaghan pointed to the discipline and adaptability that have defined his long IPL journey. He framed Kohli’s success as more than just talent, linking it to consistent hunger, smart preparation, and the ability to evolve with each season.
“Virat Kohli has been incredibly consistent. Getting 9000 IPL runs against the world’s best bowlers is not something that happens by accident. It comes down to hunger, discipline, and the way he adapts year after year—those are the traits that make him stand out. He has been in the IPL since 2008, and one of the most impressive parts is that he didn’t begin as an opener. He batted in the lower-middle order, earned his spot, and then worked his way up to number three. Later, when he opened alongside Chris Gayle, it changed his game completely. He’s going to reach 10,000 runs without a doubt. Kohli is the best batter the IPL has ever seen—not just because of the runs, but because of how he has developed and dominated across different phases of the competition,” McClenaghan said during his discussion.
Here are the top five leading run-scorers in the IPL:
- 1. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) — 9,012
- 2. Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers) — 7,183
- 3. Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS, DC, SRH, MI, Deccan Chargers) — 6,769
- 4. David Warner (Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad) — 6,565
- 5. KL Rahul (Delhi Capitals, LSG, PBKS, RCB, SRH) — 5,580
McClenaghan added that Kohli’s approach is built around consistency rather than constant reinvention. He suggested that time away from international cricket has allowed Kohli to manage his schedule and preparation more effectively throughout the year, while also ensuring he can dedicate enough attention to fitness and recovery. Experience, he said, also helps Kohli handle pressure situations with clarity, and it enables him to keep executing the same fundamentals—especially targeting the areas that trouble batters most and maintaining control over swing, a factor that has been visible recently.
“Instead of changing everything, he keeps doing the same things again and again, and he keeps improving. The break from international cricket is now helping him plan his year better. He has enough time to work on fitness and stay fresh. He also has the experience to manage pressure situations. It’s about being able to do what you’ve been doing—hitting the zones that cause the most problems for batters, and having control over swing, which we’re seeing right now. That’s why his effect is always so strong with the new ball,” he added.
Upcoming Royal Challengers Bengaluru matches
- 30 April — Gujarat Titans — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — 7:30 PM
- 07 May — Lucknow Super Giants — Ekana Stadium, Lucknow — 7:30 PM
- 10 May — Mumbai Indians — Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur — 7:30 PM
- 13 May — Kolkata Knight Riders — Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur — 7:30 PM
- 17 May — Punjab Kings — HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala — 3:30 PM
- 22 May — Sunrisers Hyderabad — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — 7:30 PM
