One of modern cricket’s leading batters, Virat Kohli, has added another milestone to his record in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli has become the first cricketer to score 5,500 runs as an opener for a single franchise in the tournament’s history.
The landmark was reached on Sunday (17 May) during a match against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala. Kohli achieved the feat at the very start of his innings, striking a six to move past the 5,500-run mark. This specific accomplishment distinguishes him from other leading openers in the league.
Previously, Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner had also crossed 5,500 runs as openers in the IPL. However, both players accumulated their runs while representing multiple franchises. Kohli remains the only batter to have reached this figure while playing exclusively for a single team, underlining his long-standing association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
In addition to this milestone, Kohli registered another significant record in the same match. He recorded his fourth consecutive IPL season with more than 500 runs. Overall, this is the ninth season in which he has scored in excess of 500 runs, the highest number achieved by any player in the tournament’s history.
This level of consistency places him ahead of other leading performers in the competition. Both David Warner and KL Rahul have recorded seven seasons each with 500 or more runs, positioning them behind Kohli in this statistical category.
The following table summarises players with the most 500-plus run seasons in IPL history:
| Player Name | 500+ Run Seasons |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 9 |
| David Warner | 7 |
| KL Rahul | 7 |
Kohli’s achievements in this match further reinforce his record of sustained performance in the IPL. Scoring consistently over multiple seasons, while maintaining a fixed role as an opener for a single franchise, highlights both his durability and adaptability in a highly competitive T20 league.
The IPL, featuring leading domestic and international cricketers, has seen numerous batting records over the years. Within this context, Kohli’s latest milestones—both in terms of aggregate runs as an opener for one franchise and the number of high-scoring seasons—add to his established statistical profile in the competition.