Kohli Creates History- April 24, Bengaluru Virat Kohli, the talismanic leader of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), continues to etch his name deeper into cricketing history. In a commanding performance at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli not only anchored RCB to their first home victory of the 2025 IPL season but also shattered a prestigious global T20 record.
With a sparkling 42-ball 70 against Rajasthan Royals, Kohli registered his 26th T20 half-century at a single venue, surpassing England’s Alex Hales, who had previously held the record with 25 fifties at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
The updated list of most T20 fifties at a single venue now reads:
- Virat Kohli – 26 fifties at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Alex Hales – 25 fifties at Trent Bridge
- James Vince – 24 at The Rose Bowl
- Tamim Iqbal – 23 at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium
- Jason Roy – 21 at The Oval
Kohli’s latest milestone came in front of a roaring home crowd as he dominated proceedings with a strike rate of 166.67, playing a pivotal role in a 95-run stand with Devdutt Padikkal. Their partnership, particularly fruitful between overs 11 to 15, provided RCB the platform to post a strong total.
Master of the Chinnaswamy
This venue has long been Kohli’s fortress. He leads in every major T20 metric at the stadium—most runs, most fifties, best average, and most centuries. Speaking post-match, Kohli acknowledged the bond he shares with the ground and the fans:
“This venue is the best place to play cricket in the IPL. The fans have been behind us, win or lose. It’s more than a ground for me—it’s home, full of special memories.”
More Records Tumble
Kohli’s knock also saw him move ahead of Chris Gayle in terms of fifty-plus scores in T20s. With 102 fifties and 9 centuries, his tally now stands at 111, second only to Australia’s David Warner, who tops the list with 117.
This is Kohli’s second consecutive fifty in IPL 2025, taking his season tally to 392 runs in 9 matches, firmly placing him in contention for the Orange Cap.
IPL 2025 – Orange Cap Race (as of April 24)
| Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Average | Strike Rate |
| B Sai Sudharsan | GT | 417 | 8 | 52.12 | 152.18 |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 392 | 9 | 49.00 | 144.18 |
| Nicholas Pooran | LSG | 377 | 9 | 41.88 | 169.82 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | MI | 373 | 9 | 46.62 | 153.84 |
| Jos Buttler | GT | 356 | 9 | 44.50 | 138.30 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 356 | 9 | 39.55 | 149.21 |
RCB on the Rise, RR on the Brink
The win lifted RCB to 12 points from nine games, reinvigorating their playoff hopes. With five league matches remaining, the momentum appears to be swinging their way.
Kohli spoke about the team’s evolving approach with the bat:
“We had a lot of discussions as a unit. Earlier, we were trying too hard up front and losing wickets. Today, the idea was to let the ball come on, build partnerships, and go hard later. That’s how you get those 15–20 extra runs here.”
For Rajasthan Royals, however, it was another demoralizing loss—their seventh of the season—leaving them near the bottom of the table and virtually needing to win all remaining matches and hope for other results to keep playoff hopes alive.
Kohli’s Resurgence Fuels RCB Hopes
Virat Kohli’s return to top form has come at a crucial juncture for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. With two consecutive fifties and a tally of 392 runs in nine games, Kohli has not only climbed the Orange Cap leaderboard but also injected much-needed momentum into RCB’s campaign.
His composed 70 off 42 balls against Rajasthan Royals showcased his ability to anchor the innings while maintaining an aggressive strike rate. The experienced opener has struck the right balance between caution and aggression, allowing others around him to play more freely. His recent form has brought stability to the top order and helped RCB put up competitive totals, especially at their home ground.
Kohli’s presence and consistency are proving vital as RCB push for a playoff spot, and if his purple patch continues, it could be the catalyst for their long-awaited title run.
