IPL 2023: Top IPL run-getter Virat Kohli draws level with Chris Gayle with six IPL centuries

IPL 2023: Top IPL run-getter Virat Kohli draws level with Chris Gayle with six IPL centuries. Virat Kohli has 7162 runs from 236 matches in Indian Premier League.

Kohli smashes 6th IPL century; scored 100 off 63 against SRH (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

Even though Virat Kohli was continuously scoring runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the sixteenth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), there were always questions over Kohli’s lack of intent post the powerplay overs. Much of that safe approach worked in favour of Bangalore thanks to Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell’s rich form besides backfiring them at the same rate as a team which has struggled because of their poor middle order.

In a vital do-or-die game, Virat Kohli played a sensational 100-run knock in 63 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and four sixes to comfortably take RCB over the line in the 187-run chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. In the process, he equaled Chris Gayle’s tally of six IPL centuries.

Read More: IPL 2023, SRH vs RCB: Kohli-Faf duo thrash SRH at home, Klaasen ton in vain; RCB move to 4th spot

Let’s take a look at few of the records Virat Kohli has broken and made in the IPL

Kohli sits at the peak of top run getter of IPL history with 7162 runs

Virat Kohli sits at the peak of the top run-getters list of the tournament with 7162 runs in 228 innings, with Shikhar Dhawan being second on the list with 6617 runs in 216 IPL innings. David Warner is third in the list with 6311 runs in 175 IPL innings but both Dhawan and Warner are 38 & 37, respectively, while Kohli is just 34 currently. It will be interesting to see for how many years they could keep on playing IPL.

Let’s break up his IPL runs season by season.

Year	Mat	Runs	Ave	S/R	HS	50s/100s
2023	13	538	44.83	135.26	100	06/01
2022	16	341	22.73	115.99	73	02/00
2021	15	405	28.92	119.46	72*	03/00
2000	15	466	42.36	121.35	90*	03/00
2019	14	464	33.14	141.46	100	02/01
2018	14	530	48.18	139.10	92*	04/00
2017	10	308	30.80	122.22	64	04/00
2016	16	973	81.08	152.03	113	07/04
2015	16	505	45.90	130.82	82*	03/00
2014	14	359	27.61	122.10	73	02/00
2013	16	634	45.28	138.73	99	06/00
2012	16	364	28.00	111.65	73*	02/00
2011	16	557	46.41	121.08	71	04/00

2010	16	307	27.90	144.81	58	01/00
2009	16	246	22.36	112.32	50	01/00
2008	13	165	15.00	105.09	38	00/00
All IPL	236	7162	36.73	129.63	113	50/06

Read More: Virat Kohli and RCB: A love story made in heaven

Kohli, du Plessis have added 872 runs for opening stand this season (Images: ©IPL/Twitter)

6 IPL centuries for Virat Kohli - Virat Kohli’s six hundreds in IPL is now the joint-most centuries in the league’s history, along with Chris Gayle. It was Kohli’s seventh century in all T20s, the most by an Indian in the format, surpassing six by KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.

Kohli’s class in 185+ chases – In 185+ chases, Kohli has scored 960 IPL runs in 35 innings at an average of 32 and strike rate of 134.45 with five fifties and two centuries, while in 11 T20Is for India in 185+ chases, Kohli has managed 541 runs at an average of 54.10 and strike rate of 150.69 including five half-centuries.

Consecutive 400+ seasons - This is now also the fifth season in the last six editions where Kohli has crossed the 400-run mark in the tournament.

Kohli’s record breaking 872-run partnership with Faf du Plessis - His partnership of 872 runs with Faf du Plessis is now the most by an opening pair in an edition of the IPL, but overall, behind Kohli and AB de Villiers’ 939 in 2016.

Kohli who still is one of the fittest players of the world cricket right now can go on to play many seasons in the future. Some youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have begun well but even for them to touch Kohli, they need to take their consistency to a different level.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will play their last league game against Gujarat Titans on May 21 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangaluru.

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