Virat Kohli Shines at 38, Breaks Pakistani Player’s Record; Becomes First Indian to Achieve Historic Feat
Virat Kohli Breaks Shoaib Malik’s Record in IPL 2026, Becomes First Indian to Achieve Historic T20 Milestone
At 38, Kohli shines in IPL 2026 opener, becomes highest run-scorer among Asian batters in T20 cricket
March 29: Virat Kohli once again proved his dominance in world cricket by scripting history during the opening match of the Indian Premier League 2026. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli achieved a remarkable milestone in T20 cricket.
Chasing a challenging target of 202 runs, Kohli surpassed the long-standing record of Shoaib Malik to become the highest run-scorer among Asian batters in T20 cricket. Kohli has now crossed 13,612 runs, showcasing extraordinary consistency and longevity in the shortest format of the game.
The milestone moment came in the 8th over when Kohli took a single to go past Malik’s tally of 13,571 runs. Notably, Malik had taken 557 matches to reach the mark, whereas Kohli achieved the feat in just his 415th T20 match, underlining his superior strike rate and efficiency.
With this achievement, Kohli has climbed to the sixth position in the list of highest run-scorers in T20 cricket history. The list is currently led by Chris Gayle, followed by Kieron Pollard, Alex Hales, David Warner, and Jos Buttler. Given Kohli’s current form, he is expected to climb further up the rankings soon.
In another significant record, Kohli became the first batter in IPL history to score over 4,000 runs while chasing targets, reinforcing his reputation as one of the best finishers in pressure situations. His ability to anchor innings and deliver in high-stakes matches has earned him the title of a ‘chase master’ among fans and experts alike.
Disclaimer: Statistics and records mentioned are based on available match data and may be subject to updates as the tournament progresses.
