Over his lengthy and remarkable career, the name of ace Indian batter Virat Kohli has become to be associated with records. Whether it’s international cricket or the IPL, Kohli has set several marks that occasionally seem unachievable for another player. But when he grips the bat, his standing in the sport helps to make the impossible look feasible. Here is a closer view of five such records set by Kohli in IPL history that are practically unthinkable for any other player anytime soon.
Most seasons for a single franchise
Months before he had even made his international debut for India, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) hired Virat Kohli for the inaugural season. Originally a lower-order batsman for RCB, Virat was pushed up the order to reflect his ascent in the Indian squad as his stature grew. Now, 17 years later in the 18th edition, Virat is still with RCB as their emblem and has the most seasons run for a single team (18). After Kohli with 16 seasons played for CSK till now, Virat’s former colleague and Indian hero MS Dhoni comes second on the list.
Most 200-plus IPL partnerships in past times
Though he has also been a member of some of the most famous batting combinations in IPL history, Kohli’s record for the most 200-plus partnerships distinguishes him most. No other player has accomplished—three double-century stands—that which Kohli has done. His most well-known alliances include the 229-run stand against Gujarat Lions in 2016 with AB de Villiers, the 215-run stand against Mumbai Indians in 2015, and another double-century partnership of 204 runs in 2012 with Chris Gayle against Delhi Capitals (Delhi Daredevils then). Such collaborations call for both extraordinary personal genius and flawless harmony with the batting partner—something Kohli has perfected.
Most runs in a single season.
Kohli raised his batting to a level never seen before in the 2016 IPL season. In 16 games, he accumulated 973 runs, shockingly close to being the first player to achieve 1,000 runs in an IPL season. His dominance was unparalleled as he single-handed carried Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the final, averaging 81.08 and with a strike rate of 152.03.
Usually run one venue only.
Having amassed the most runs by a player at a single venue in IPL history, Virat Kohli has made Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium his preferred hunting grounds. Having scored 2,994 runs in the 83 innings he has flown here, this venue is now his most effective one in the event. Chinnaswamy’s short boundaries, flat pitch, and high-scoring character have matched Kohli’s forceful but traditional stroke play. Although other players have great records at their home grounds, none have been as constant and forceful as he has been in one stadium.
Most scoring fifty-plus in one season
Along with hitting centuries, Kohli registered the highest 50-plus scores in a single IPL event in his record-breaking 2016 season—a total of 11. This indicates that in practically 75% of the games he participated in that half-century mark. Although consistency in T20 cricket is rare, Kohli’s performance in contest after match has been outstanding. Since even the finest in the world find it difficult to attain such degrees of consistency, this another record seems almost unbreakable.