Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team’s ex-captain, is one of the most successful and consistent batters in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli, who made his debut in the tournament in 2008 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has been a mainstay in the team’s batting line-up since then.
Run machine kick started the ongoing season of the IPL with a bang, smashed 82 off just 49 deliveries with the assistance of six boundaries down the ground and five huge sixes all over the park.
In his debut season, Kohli played eight matches and scored 165 runs at an average of 20.62. He followed it up with a much-improved performance in the 2009 season, scoring 246 runs in 16 matches at an average of 22.36. However, it was in the 2010 season that Kohli really came into his own, scoring 307 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 27.90.
| Virat Kohli in IPL | |
| Year | Runs |
| 2008 | 165 |
| 2009 | 246 |
| 2010 | 307 |
| 2011 | 557 |
| 2012 | 364 |
| 2013 | 634 |
| 2014 | 359 |
| 2015 | 505 |
| 2016 | 973 |
| 2017 | 308 |
| 2018 | 530 |
| 2019 | 464 |
| 2020 | 466 |
| 2021 | 405 |
| 2022 | 341 |
| 2023 | ? |
Kohli’s performances in the IPL continued to improve over the years. In the 2011 season, he scored 557 runs in 16 matches at an average of 46.41, finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. His performances helped RCB reach the final of the tournament, where they lost to the Chennai Super Kings.
The 2012 season was a relatively quiet one for Kohli, as he managed to score only 364 runs in 16 matches at an average of 28.00. However, he bounced back in style in the 2013 season, scoring 634 runs in 16 matches at an average of 45.28. His performances helped RCB reach the playoffs of the tournament.
Kohli’s best IPL season came in 2016, where he scored a record-breaking 973 runs in 16 matches at an astonishing average of 81.08. He hit four centuries and seven half-centuries in the season, and helped RCB reach the final of the tournament.
Although RCB lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final, Kohli’s performances earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
In the 2017 season, Kohli scored 308 runs in 10 matches at an average of 30.80. However, RCB finished at the bottom of the points table that season. Kohli’s performances dipped slightly in the 2018 season, where he scored 530 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.18.
Kohli’s performances in the IPL have been consistently good over the years. In 225 matches, he has scored 6,727 runs at an average of 36.56, with five centuries and 45 half-centuries. He is currently the leading run-scorer in the history of the tournament.
| M | Inns | NO | 50s | 100s | HS | Runs | Avg | S/R |
| 225 | 217 | 33 | 45 | 5 | 113 | 6727 | 36.56 | 129.46 |
Kohli’s performances in the IPL have not only helped RCB but have also made him one of the most sought-after players in the tournament. His ability to score runs consistently and his leadership skills make him a valuable asset for any team. As Kohli continues to play for RCB in the IPL, cricket fans all over the world will be hoping to see more of his trademark batting performances in the ongoing IPL 2023 season .
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