Virat Kohli is once again on the verge of rewriting the record books. Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Kohli is just 20 runs away from becoming the first batsman in T20 history to score 1,000 runs against the five-time champions.
Kohli, who is already the leading run-scorer against MI in T20 cricket, has amassed 980 runs in 35 innings in the IPL and the now-defunct T20 Champions League. His consistency against one of the most successful teams in the league highlights both his longevity and his dominance at the highest level.
Kohli’s dominance against Mumbai Indians
Kohli’s record against MI reflects his ability to deliver over the seasons:
His tally already puts him ahead of several IPL greats including KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in terms of T20 runs against Mumbai.
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Race with KL Rahul adds intrigue
While Kohli leads the overall T20 numbers, the IPL-only race tells a slightly different story. KL Rahul scored 976 runs against MI in just 20 innings, making him the most prolific batsman against them in IPL history so far.
Meanwhile, Kohli has 922 runs in 34 IPL innings against MI and needs 78 more to reach the 1,000-run mark in the league alone. This adds an extra layer of competition between two of India’s best modern batsmen.
Wankhede: a happy hunting ground
The venue for tonight’s clash, the Wankhede Stadium, has been particularly kind to Kohli over the years. 401 runs in 12 innings against MI at Wankhede at an average: 45.55 Throughout his IPL career at the venue, Kohli has scored 641 runs at an average of 45.78, underlining his comfort on the batting-friendly surface.
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If he crosses the 1,000-run mark today, MI will be the fifth team against whom Kohli reaches this milestone in the IPL. He has already reached 1,000 runs against Chennai Super Kings (1174), Delhi Capitals (1130), Punjab Kings (1159) and Kolkata Knight Riders (1021).