By Zainab Shafiq 
The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off today with a clash between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While the match itself is keeping fans on the edge of their seats, a historic feat by former RCB captain Virat Kohli has stolen the limelight.
Kohli etched his name in the record books by becoming the only Indian batsman to surpass the elusive 12000-run mark in T20 cricket. He achieved this milestone with a well-timed 21 runs off 20 deliveries during the ongoing match, albeit it wasn’t a defining knock in terms of the game.
This record separates Kohli from his contemporaries. His nearest competitor, Rohit Sharma, sits at a distant second with 11,156 runs in T20s. Kohli’s consistency is further highlighted by his impressive average of 41.21 across 359 innings.
With this achievement, Kohli joins an elite group of international T20 run-scorers with over 12,000 runs. Names like David Warner, Alex Hales, Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik, and the legendary Chris Gayle belong to this exclusive club, with Gayle leading the pack at a staggering 14,562 runs.
Following Kohli and Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan occupies the third position among the leading Indian T20 run-scorers. The Punjab Kings’ captain boasts 9,645 runs from 326 innings and will be looking to add to his tally when his team takes on the Delhi Capitals tomorrow.
Kohli’s dominance extends beyond this record. He remains the undisputed king of run-scoring in the IPL, amassing the most runs in the tournament’s history. With over 7,000 runs, he stands tall above Dhawan and David Warner in this department.
While Kohli’s individual brilliance is undeniable, the elusive IPL trophy continues to elude RCB. Despite reaching the playoffs and finals on several occasions, the team has yet to secure victory in the coveted tournament. As the season unfolds, fans will be eager to see Kohli repeat his IPL heroics and perhaps even lead RCB to their first IPL championship.
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