Virat Kohli reached the 9,000-run mark in the IPL on Monday in Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s 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\u201410,000 runs\u2014remains a distant stretch for most of the other players currently operating in the competition\u2019s top tier, and even those placed within the top five on the run-scoring list. While Kohli\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
McClenaghan also praised Kohli\u2019s 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\u2019s dominance was shaped early by a sharp new-ball burst from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Together, they dismantled Delhi\u2019s batting effort and bowled the opposition out for 75\u2014the 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s success as more than just talent, linking it to consistent hunger, smart preparation, and the ability to evolve with each season.<\/p>\n
\u201cVirat Kohli has been incredibly consistent. Getting 9000 IPL runs against the world\u2019s best bowlers is not something that happens by accident. It comes down to hunger, discipline, and the way he adapts year after year\u2014those 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\u2019t 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\u2019s going to reach 10,000 runs without a doubt. Kohli is the best batter the IPL has ever seen\u2014not just because of the runs, but because of how he has developed and dominated across different phases of the competition,\u201d McClenaghan said during his discussion.<\/p>\n
Here are the top five leading run-scorers in the IPL:<\/p>\n
McClenaghan added that Kohli\u2019s 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\u2014especially targeting the areas that trouble batters most and maintaining control over swing, a factor that has been visible recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead 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\u2019s about being able to do what you\u2019ve been doing\u2014hitting the zones that cause the most problems for batters, and having control over swing, which we\u2019re seeing right now. That\u2019s why his effect is always so strong with the new ball,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Virat Kohli reached the 9,000-run mark in the IPL on Monday in Royal Challengers Bengaluru\u2019s match versus Delhi Capitals. He brought up the milestone with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":6012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Virat Kohli 9,000 IPL Runs: Can He Hit 10,000?","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Virat Kohli smashes 9,000 IPL runs vs Delhi Capitals\u2014can he power to 10,000 by 2026? Latest stats, milestones and what\u2019s next.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n