Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian cricketer to score 12,000 runs in the T20 format. Kohli accomplished this remarkable feat during the opening match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Kohli’s 12,000 runs include his scores for RCB in the IPL and the now-defunct Champions League, for Delhi in domestic Twenty-over cricket, and for India in T20 Internationals. Rohit Sharma is the second-highest Indian run-scorer in T20 cricket with a total of 11,156 runs.
Global T20 Run-Scorers
The leading position in the list of highest T20 run-scorers is held by former West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who has scored a massive 14,562 runs. Following him is former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik with 13,360 runs, and third is West Indian player Kieron Pollard with 12,900 runs.
Milestone Moment
Kohli crossed the 12,000-run milestone in the seventh over of the CSK vs RCB IPL match, swiping a full ball from Ravindra Jadeja behind square on the leg side for a single. He has scored eight centuries and 91 fifties so far in T20 cricket.
IPL Records
Virat Kohli also holds the record for the highest runs in IPL of all time. He has scored 7,284 runs in 239 matches and 230 innings at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02. His best score in the IPL is 113, and he has scored seven centuries and 50 fifties.
T20I Exploits
Kohli, an Indian cricket player, has scored 4037 runs in T20 international matches while playing for India. He has also scored runs for his state team Delhi, Indians, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He has scored one century in T20 international matches.
Another Milestone against CSK
In the same match against CSK, Kohli achieved another milestone by completing 1,000 runs against the team. He has scored 1,006 runs in 32 matches against CSK at an average of 37.25, including nine half-centuries in 31 innings.
However, the most runs by a batter against an opposition in the IPL belongs to David Warner, who has scored 1,075 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at an average of 44.79 and a strike rate of over 145.
Virat Kohli’s remarkable achievement of becoming the first Indian to score 12,000 T20 runs is a testament to his consistency, skill, and longevity in the shortest format of the game. With many more milestones in sight, the Indian captain continues to inspire and captivate cricket fans worldwide.