500 and counting: Virat Kohli's consistency in unmatched, extends his IPL record
PBKS vs RCB: Virat Kohli has registered another 500-run IPL season, extending his record. The feat highlights his sustained consistency in the tournament.
Virat Kohli smashed a fluent 58 off 37 balls to extend his historic IPL record and power RCB to a competitive 222 for 4 against Punjab Kings here on Sunday.
PBKS vs RCB, IPL 2026: Updates | Highlights
With this innings, Kohli became the first batter in IPL history to record nine separate 500-run seasons, pulling well clear of KL Rahul and David Warner, who trail with seven seasons each. The knock also marked Kohli's 210th fifty-plus partnership in Men's T20 history, moving him level with England’s Alex Hales at the absolute summit of global T20 cricket.
Batters involved in most 50+ partnerships in T20s
- 210 - Alex Hales
- 210 - Virat Kohli
- 200 - David Warner
- 196 - Babar Azam
- 191 - Chris Gayle
KOHLI, IYER SHINE IN DHARAMSALA
Kohli’s masterclass came at a crucial time for the table-toppers, who were forced into a pre-match leadership shuffle. Regular captain Rajat Patidar was ruled out of the clash due to a sudden injury, handing the stand-in captaincy duties to Jitesh Sharma.
Stepping up in the absence of their regular skipper, the iconic opener hit four boundaries and three sixes to lay a solid foundation. He first stabilized the innings by stitching together a vital 76-run partnership for the second wicket with Devdutt Padikkal, who hit a breezy 45.
Following Padikkal's dismissal, Kohli combined with Venkatesh Iyer for a rapid 60-run third-wicket stand to keep RCB firmly in control.
The left-handed Iyer turned destroyer-in-chief after Kohli's departure. Iyer blasted an unbeaten 73 off just 40 balls, punishing the Punjab bowling attack with eight boundaries and four maximums. His explosive finish made crossing the 200-run threshold look remarkably easy, leaving Punjab Kings with a daunting target of 223 runs to chase. Tim David provided the final flourishes with a quickfire 28 off 12 deliveries, ensuring RCB finished their 20 overs on an absolute high.
Punjab Kings had earlier won the toss and elected to field first at the scenic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, a decision that quickly backfired under the weight of RCB’s authoritative batting depth. Harpreet Brar was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab, claiming two wickets, but the rest of the attack struggled to contain the flow of runs on a true batting surface.
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