Virat Kohli Sets Two Major T20 Records in Style at Chinnaswamy
Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli continues to etch his name in the history books of T20 cricket. In a standout performance against the Rajasthan Royals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli not only delivered a match-defining half-century but also set two remarkable records in the shortest format of the game.
Kohli scored a commanding 70 runs off just 42 deliveries, peppering the field with eight fours and two sixes, registering a strike rate of 166.67. His innings not only laid a solid foundation for his team but also propelled him to the top of the chart for most 50-plus scores while batting first in T20s.
Record for Most 50+ Scores Batting First
With this latest milestone, Kohli now has 62 scores of 50 or more when opening the innings in T20 cricket, surpassing Pakistan’s Babar Azam, who has 61 such scores to his name. The elite list also includes:
- Chris Gayle – 57
- David Warner – 55
- Jos Buttler – 52
- Faf du Plessis – 52
Kohli’s consistency while setting a target has been a hallmark of his T20 career, and this record only cements his reputation as one of the most dependable openers in world cricket.
First Player to Score 3,500 Runs at a Single T20 Venue
Adding to his accolades on the same night, Kohli became the first cricketer ever to score over 3,500 runs at a single venue in T20s, achieving the feat at his IPL home ground in Bengaluru.
With this achievement, he overtook Mushfiqur Rahim of Bangladesh, who had amassed 3,373 runs at Mirpur. Other names on this prestigious list include:
- James Vince – 3,253 runs at Southampton
- Alex Hales – 3,241 runs at Nottingham
- Tamim Iqbal – 3,238 runs at Mirpur
The numbers are a testament to Kohli’s dominance and deep connection with the Chinnaswamy pitch—often referred to as his “fortress” in T20 cricket.
