Virat Kohli to script all-time T20 record, leaving behind Babar Azam and Chris Gayle

ByTech Word News

Virat Kohli (BCCI/IPL Photo) NEW DELHI: With a mountain of records already to his name, Virat Kohli added another milestone to his glittering career during the IPL 2026 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday.Kohli became the batsman involved in more than 50 partnerships in the history of men’s T20 cricket. The RCB superstar achieved the feat after stringing together another fifty-plus opening stand with Venkatesh Iyer against SRH.The partnership again gave RCB a flying start before Venkatesh fell for a blistering 44 off just 19 balls dismissed by Eshan Malinga.With this stand, Kohli has scored 211 fifty-plus partnerships in men’s T20 shirts – the highest ever. He passed England batsman Alex Hales, who is second with 210 such stands. The former David Warner opener ranks third with 200, followed by Babar Azam with 196 and T20 legend Chris Gayle with 191.

  • Batsmen involved in most 50+ stands in Men’s T20s
  • 211*—Virat Kohli
  • 210—Alex Hales
  • 200—David Warner
  • 196—Babar Azam
  • 191—Chris Gayle

Earlier in the evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad amassed a mammoth 255/4 against RCB, riding on explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen in front of a packed Hyderabad crowd.Kishan (79) top scored for Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH were also well served by half-centuries from Abhishek (56) and Klaasen (51).Kishan and Klaasen put on 113 runs for the third wicket in what proved to be a successful stand for the SRH batsmen.For RCB, Rasikh Salam Dar was the pick of the bowlers with 2/52.