Virat Kohli Achieves Another Milestone, Becomes RCB's Most Prolific Batsman

Virat Kohli led from the front on Friday as Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed IPL 2015 table-toppers Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets to keep their campaign on track. After Mitchell Starc's demolition job with the ball, skipper Kohli anchored the modest chase and clobbered 62 of the 131 needed to win. (Full Coverage of IPL 2015)

It was Kohli's 18th half-century for the Royal Challengers in the eight years he has been involved with the franchise. Kohli is now also the leading run scorer for RCB with 2817 runs 2817 (ave.31.65) in 112. He has shrugged off his indifferent form that plagued him since the World Cup. Kohli now has two back-to-back fifties in this edition of the IPL. (RCB Can Win Momentum Now: Kohli)

And when Kohli dominates like that, his teams usually win big. The nine-wicket win in Ahmedabad was Bangalore's eighth by that margin. No other team has won more games by nine wickets in the IPL. Bangalore's biggest win in terms of wickets is by 10 wickets vs Rajasthan Royals at Bangalore on March 18, 2010.

Bangalore's win with 23 balls to spare is the biggest in this IPL, eclipsing Chennai's win with 20 balls to spare vs Mumbai Indians at Mumbai on April 17, 2015. That showed the kind of potential RCB have when they are in full steam.

Other stats from RCB's win over RR:

- Bangalore have won seven and lost seven out of 14 contested vs Rajasthan Royals in the IPL - winning % 50.00.

- Kohli's 62 not out is the highest by a visiting captain at Motera, Ahmedabad in the IPL. Gautam Gambhir had scored 54 off 34 balls for Kolkata vs Rajasthan at this venue on May 5, 2014.

 

- Ajinkya Rahane has amassed 323 in seven innings at an average of 53.83. His average is the highest among the batsmen with 200 runs or more in this IPL. No other batsman has registered 300 runs in this IPL.

 

- Rajasthan Royals totalled 73 for three after ten overs - their same total while batting first in their superb victory by 26 runs vs Punjab at Pune on April 10, 2015.

 

- Rajasthan have lost all fourteen games while defending a total of 140 or less in the IPL.

 

- Dinesh Karthik has become the second wicketkeeper after Adam Gilchrist (51) to complete 50 catches or more in the IPL.

 

- Karthik is the first wicketkeeper to reach 70 dismissals (50 catches  20 stumpings) in 111 matches in the IPL.

 

- Virat Kohli has bowled after 47 games in the IPL - the last occasion was against Chennai at Chennai on April 12, 2012 - his figures being 2-0-36-0, including 28 conceded to Albie Morkel (4,6,4,6,2,6)

(With Inputs from Rajesh Kumar)