Virat Kohli wrote another memorable chapter in T20 cricket on Wednesday as he became the quickest batter ever to reach 14,000 runs in the format, steering Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. Kohli reached the milestone in 409 innings, eclipsing Chris Gayle’s long-standing mark of 423 and adding yet another landmark to a career defined by endurance, precision, and consistency.
Kohli’s historic T20 landmarks
The innings against KKR didn’t just deliver a result for RCB—it also underlined Kohli’s place in the all-time record books across T20 batting. His achievement came against the backdrop of a season where he had to respond after a difficult run of form, yet he produced when it mattered most.
- Fastest to 14,000 T20 runs: Virat Kohli — 409 innings
- Previous record for the mark: Chris Gayle — 423 innings
- Other notable fastest routes: David Warner — 431 innings
- Jos Buttler — 468 innings; Alex Hales — 505 innings
- Kieron Pollard — 633 innings
Kohli also reinforced his standing as India’s leading run-getter in T20 cricket.
- Most T20 runs by Indians: Virat Kohli — 14,000
- Rohit Sharma — 12,491; Shikhar Dhawan — 9,797
- Suryakumar Yadav — 9,654; Sanju Samson — 8,830
- Suresh Raina — 8,654; KL Rahul — 8,602
RCB’s chase: Kohli’s ninth IPL century in style
The night became even more significant for RCB as Kohli struck his ninth IPL century to turn the game firmly in their favour. Entering the contest after back-to-back ducks, he answered with authority, remaining unbeaten on 105 off 60 balls. His innings featured 11 fours and three sixes, and it came in the pressure phase of the chase—exactly where RCB needed stability and momentum.
The century also pushed Kohli further up another elite IPL list.
- Most IPL hundreds: Virat Kohli — 9
- Jos Buttler — 7; Chris Gayle — 6
- KL Rahul — 6; Sanju Samson — 5
Kohli’s dominance over KKR
Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli’s record has been particularly ruthless. He registered his ninth fifty-plus score versus the franchise—an IPL high for any batter against a specific opponent.
- Most 50+ scores vs KKR in IPL: Virat Kohli — 9
- Rohit Sharma — 8; David Warner — 8
- Suresh Raina — 8; Shikhar Dhawan — 7
Match flow and points table impact
RCB were chasing 193 in Raipur, and the task looked demanding given the batting struggles they had faced recently. Kohli, too, had been through a lean patch that included two consecutive ducks, but the former captain timed his response perfectly to swing the momentum back to his side.
When RCB needed a platform, Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal combined for a crucial 92-run stand. Padikkal made 37 off 27 balls, helping RCB build a chase that stayed under control. Kohli then carried the innings forward and completed the job calmly, finishing the chase in 19.1 overs.
The win propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the summit of the IPL 2026 points table. RCB ended on 16 points, level with Gujarat Titans, but they stayed ahead thanks to a superior net run rate.
KKR’s total and the key contributors
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 192 for four. The innings began with a standout performance from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who struck 71 off 46 deliveries. His knock included seven fours and three sixes, and it also helped KKR form important partnerships.
Alongside Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green contributed 32, while Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 49. Those efforts gave KKR a competitive score, but in the end, the chase belonged to Kohli, who silenced the doubters after consecutive failures and reminded everyone why he remains among the greatest T20 batters the game has produced.
