Virat Kohli completed 9,000 IPL runs during the match against Delhi Capitals on Monday, ending the game with back-to-back sixes. His next target is the exclusive milestone of 10,000 IPL runs, which is a long way off for other current players, even those in the top five. Although Kohli is already 37, raising some questions about longevity, former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan believes he can achieve the feat without any doubt.Mitchell McClenaghan praised Virat Kohli’s outstanding consistency after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s emphatic nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2026 clash.RCB’s dominant win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday was set up by a new-ball spell from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, which decimated Delhi’s batting line-up and bowled them out for just 75, their lowest total of the season. The chase was completed with ease, highlighting RCB’s all-round dominance.Highlighting Kohli’s continued excellence in the tournament, McClenaghan, speaking on JioHotstar, highlighted the discipline and adaptability that has defined the veteran batsman’s journey over the years.“Virat Kohli has been incredibly consistent. Scoring 9,000 IPL runs against the best bowlers in the world is no easy task. It’s about hunger, discipline and adapting every year, and that’s what brings out the best in him. He’s been in the IPL since 2008, and the best part is that he started as a lower order opener. Fought for his place, then moved to number three. Later he opened with Chris Gayle. It completely changed his game. He will reach 10,000 runs soon, no doubt. Kohli is the greatest batsman of all time in the IPL, not just for runs, but for how he has developed and dominated over different periods,” McClenaghan told JioStar.
| Rank | the player | team (team) | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9,012 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers | 7,183 |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | PBKS, DC, SRH, MI, Deccan Chargers | 6,769 |
| 4 | David Warner | Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad | 6,565 |
| 5 | KL Rahul | Delhi Capitals, LSG, PBKS, RCB, SRH | 5,580 |
“Instead of reinventing himself, he’s doing the same thing over and over again, and he’s getting better at it. The time off from international cricket is now helping him improve his timing throughout the year. He’s getting a lot of time to work on fitness and stay fresh. He’s got a lot of experience and knows how to deal with pressure situations. It’s just what you’re doing.” That means hitting the areas that give batsmen the most trouble, and controlling the swing, which we’re looking at right now. That’s why his impact has always been so good with the new ball,” he added.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Upcoming Matches:
| History | Opposite | location | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 30 | Gujarat Titans | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 7:30 p.m |
| 07 May | Lucknow Supergiants | Ekna Stadium, Lucknow | 7:30 p.m |
| May 10 | Mumbai Indians | Shaheed Vir Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur | 7:30 p.m |
| May 13 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Shaheed Vir Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur | 7:30 p.m |
| May 17 | Punjab Kings | HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala | 3:30 p.m |
| May 22 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad | 7:30 p.m |
