• Source:JND

Virat Kohli once again reminded everyone why he remains one of the most dependable batters in IPL history. On Tuesday night in Dharamsala, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru star added another massive achievement to his already incredible career by becoming the first player ever to score 600 or more runs in four consecutive IPL seasons.

The landmark came during RCB’s high-pressure Qualifier 1 clash against Gujarat Titans. Kohli looked in complete control from the very beginning and played with the kind of confidence fans have come to expect from him over the years.

He scored a quickfire 43 off just 25 balls, smashing five fours and one six before being dismissed. But by the time he walked back, he had already scripted history.

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Kohli Crosses 600 Runs Yet Again

Kohli needed exactly 43 runs before the match to touch the 600-run mark for the season, and he got there comfortably inside the eighth over.

After 15 matches this season, the RCB batter now has 600 runs at an average of 50. What stands out even more is his strike rate, which is above 164 which the highest of his IPL career so far.

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For a player who was once criticised for batting too cautiously in T20 cricket, the transformation in Kohli’s approach over the last few seasons has been remarkable.

Four Consecutive Seasons Above 600 Runs

Kohli’s consistency since 2023 has been nothing short of extraordinary. He scored 639 runs in the 2023 season before taking things to another level in 2024, when he piled up 741 runs and finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.In 2025, he continued his brilliant run with 657 runs in 16 matches.

Now, with another 600-run season in 2026, Kohli has achieved something no batter in IPL history had managed before.

Before him, only players like Chris Gayle, KL Rahul and David Warner had recorded three straight IPL seasons with 600-plus runs.

Interestingly, Warner’s streak came across the 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons, as the Australian opener missed the 2018 edition because of his one-year suspension from Cricket Australia.

From a Difficult 2022 to a Stunning Comeback

What makes Kohli’s achievement even more special is the journey behind it. The 2022 season was one of the toughest phases of his IPL career.He managed only 341 runs in 16 matches and looked far from his best. Questions around his form grew louder with every game, and many wondered whether his dominance in T20 cricket was coming to an end.

Kohli, however, answered those doubts in the only way he knows — with runs.

Since 2023, he has looked refreshed, more aggressive and far more confident at the crease. His intent in the powerplay has improved, his strike rotation has become sharper, and he has added more attacking shots to his game.

The result has been a level of consistency very few players in IPL history have managed to maintain.

Lethal form despite T20I retirement

Even after retiring from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup triumph in 2024, Kohli’s standards in franchise cricket have not dipped at all.

If anything, he appears more focused and freer in the IPL now, continuing to deliver match-winning performances season after season for RCB.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans won the toss in Qualifier 1 and opted to bowl first. The winner of the contest will move directly into the IPL final, while the losing side will get another shot in Qualifier 2.


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