Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (AP Photo) Virat Kohli produced a stunning comeback after back-to-back ducks, and perhaps what made it even more special was that it came in a chase, something Kohli has built his legacy on in world cricket. The RCB superstar responded in the most Virat Kohli way possible, smashing his ninth IPL century to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a memorable chase of 193 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur.But it wasn’t just another century. It was a historic night as Kohli broke several major T20 and IPL records.
Record night for Virat Kohli vs KKR
- He became the fastest player in cricket history to reach 14,000 T20 runs, surpassing Chris Gayle’s record of 423 innings.
- He became the first Indian batsman to complete 14,000 T20 runs, comfortably ahead of Rohit Sharma.
- He registered his 10th T20 century and became the first Indian to reach the milestone.
- He became the most capped player in IPL history, surpassing MS Dhoni with his 279th IPL appearance.
- He extended his own record for most IPL centuries and took his tally to nine hundreds.
- He equaled Jos Buttler for most IPL centuries in successful chases with three.
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Krunal Pandya opens the match winning game and RCB’s playoff runDespite the flurry of milestones, Kohli remained calm and down to earth while talking about the achievements after the match.“Well, I just love batting, even after all that. That’s my basic feeling,” Kohli said. “What an honor to still be playing at this level and competing against the best in the world. Cricket is something I really love. Every time I step on the field I give my heart and soul because one day it will all end and I want to make the most of every moment,” Kohli said during the post-match presentation. He further added that pressure situations continue to motivate him rather than intimidate him.“I enjoy fighting in difficult situations. I look forward to the moments when there is pressure and heat because that’s when you test yourself and say go for it,” added Kohli. The century also propelled RCB to a decisive six-wicket victory that strengthened their position at the top of the IPL 2026 points table.Earlier in the evening, KKR posted a competitive 192/4 after being put into bat, largely thanks to a brilliant 71 off 46 balls from Angkrish Raghuvanshi. After a cautious start, the youngster anchored the innings brilliantly and gave Kolkata a strong platform.However, once Kohli got going, the chase quickly turned into another chapter of his greatness. Kohli, coming in under immense scrutiny after back-to-back ducks, silenced all doubt with a sensational unbeaten 106 off just 60 deliveries. Mixing trademark aggression, he guided RCB home with five balls to spare.
