Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) journey in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) has been fraught with challenges, facing defeat in four of their initial five matches. Yet amidst the gloom, the beacon of hope for the franchise has been none other than Virat Kohli. Kohli, the marquee batsman for RCB, has been in stellar form, amassing 316 runs across five matches at a staggering average of 105 and an impressive strike rate of 147, including an electrifying century. Despite his heroic efforts, his performances have largely gone unsupported, with only sporadic contributions from teammates such as Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik.
Looking ahead, RCB is set to clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI), and Virat Kohli, possessing a remarkable record against the squad — having scored 852 runs in total — will again be in the spotlight. Kohli is a mere 50 runs away from creating history by becoming the highest run-scorer against MI in the history of the IPL. Currently, Shikhar Dhawan leads with 901 runs against the five-time champions, while KL Rahul is close behind with 867 runs. Kohli’s bat is poised to chart a new record, potentially surpassing both Dhawan and Rahul.
Moreover, Kohli is on the verge of overtaking Dhawan in yet another impressive feat — becoming the batter with the most boundaries in IPL history. As it stands, Dhawan has glorified the boundary rope 920 times (768 fours and 152 sixes). With Kohli trailing by just three boundaries, having struck 918 times (672 fours and 246 sixes), the anticipation for him to claim the top spot is intense.
The competition for the most boundaries hit in the IPL is fierce, with the leaders charted as follows:
– 920 – Shikhar Dhawan (768 fours, 152 sixes)
– 918 – Virat Kohli (672 fours, 246 sixes)
– 898 – David Warner (662 fours, 236 sixes)
– 832 – Rohit Sharma (568 fours, 264 sixes)
– 761 – Chris Gayle (404 fours, 357 sixes)
In addition to this boundary record, Kohli is closing in on another significant milestone — the illustrious tally of 250 sixes in the IPL. He needs just four more to reach the milestone, which would induct him into an elite circle of power-hitters, alongside the likes of Chris Gayle (357 sixes), Rohit Sharma (264 sixes), and AB de Villiers (251 sixes).
Kohli’s quest for these milestones isn’t just a personal challenge but serves as a pivotal factor for RCB as they seek to find a turning point in this season. The upcoming match against the Mumbai Indians holds particular weight since both teams have had a less-than-ideal start to the season. Despite their struggles, MI has shown signs of resurgence, securing a win in their recent outing, and will aim to capitalize on a Bengaluru side that seems somewhat deflated after their sequence of losses.
As the two teams prepare to face off, the focus will squarely be on Virat Kohli. His performance could not only take him past these impressive personal milestones but also inspire much-needed confidence within the RCB camp, potentially altering the trajectory of their season. Will Kohli rise to the occasion and steer his team to triumph, or will MI continue their path to recovery? Fans will be watching closely, as the battle between these two teams, led by their respective talismans, promises to be a classic encounter in the annals of IPL history.
