Virat Kohli Slams Two Historic Firsts After Fiery Knock For RCB vs GT In IPL 2026 Qualifier 1
Virat Kohli went hammer and tongs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1
- Virat Kohli scored 43 runs off 25 balls in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 for RCB against GT
- Kohli became the first batter with 600+ runs in four consecutive IPL seasons
- He reached 500 IPL runs against Gujarat Titans, first to do so against eight teams
Virat Kohli went hammer and tongs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. The RCB superstar batter smashed one six and five fours to reach 43 in just 25 balls. Coincidentally, it was the exact tally that Kohli needed to reach 600 runs in IPL 2026. By doing so, Kohli became the first batter to score 600 or more runs in four straight IPL editions. When he reached 40 runs, he reached the tally of 500 runs against Gujarat Titans. By taking his tally to 500 in the IPL against GT, Kohli became the first player to score at least 500 runs against eight IPL teams.
In 15 innings this season, Virat has scored 600 runs at an average of 50.00 and a strike rate of 164.38 (his best in a season), with a century and four fifties and a best score of 105*.
After suffering a slump during the 2022-season, where he made just 341 runs in 16 matches at an average of 22.73 with just two fifties, Virat's comeback in the IPL and reinvention as a T20 cricketer has been extraordinary, especially considering his growing age and the fact he retired from T20Is after 2024 T20 World Cup, improving his numbers season by season in different aspects.
In the 2023 season, it was a comeback, as he ended with 639 runs in 14 innings at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82, with two centuries and six fifties. His best score was 101* and he was the fourth-highest run-getter of the tournament.
The next season saw him improve his game against spin and unleash some of his most brutal six-hitting in years. He topped the run-charts with 741 runs in 15 innings at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of 154.69, including a century and five fifties. He hit a total of 38 sixes in that edition, tying with his best tally of 38 sixes in the 2016 season.
Last season, he was instrumental in RCB's title win, leading their batting from the front, with his excellent adaptability and tempos in different conditions. He was the third-highest run-getter in the tournament with 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71, with eight fifties.
Coming to the match, GT won the toss and opted to field first. Whoever wins the match, gets a direct spot in the final, while the loser plays the winner of the eliminator (between SRH and RR) in Qualifier two for the second final spot.
Virat Kohli
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Gujarat Titans