Virat Kohli is on the verge of rewriting the record books once again. Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Kohli is just 20 runs shy of becoming the first batsman in T20 history to score 1,000 runs against the five-time champions.Already the highest run-scorer against MI in T20 cricket, Kohli has scored 980 runs in 35 innings in IPL and the now-defunct Champions League T20. His consistency against one of the league’s most successful teams highlights both his longevity and dominance at a high level.Kohli’s dominance against Mumbai IndiansKohli’s record against MI shows his ability to deliver in every season:
- Innings: 35
- Runs: 980
- Average: 31.61
- Strike Rate: 129.11
- 50+ Score: 6
- Max Score: 92*
- Sixes: 36
His tally already puts him ahead of several IPL greats including KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in terms of T20 runs against Mumbai.
A run-in with KL Rahul added to the intrigue.
While Kohli leads the overall T20 numbers, the IPL run alone tells a slightly different story. KL Rahul has scored 976 runs in just 20 innings against MI, making him the most successful batsman against them in IPL history.Meanwhile, Kohli has scored 922 runs in 34 IPL innings against MI and needs just 78 more runs to reach 1,000 runs in the league. This adds an extra layer of competition between two of India’s best modern batsmen.
Wankhede: A pleasant hunting ground
The venue for tonight’s clash, the Wankhede Stadium, has been particularly kind to Kohli over the years. With an average of 401 runs in 12 innings against MI at Wankhede: 45.55 at the point in his IPL career, Kohli has scored 641 runs at an average of 45.78, illustrating his comfort on a batting-friendly surface. If he crosses the 1000-run mark today, MI will become the fifth team against whom Kohli has achieved the milestone in the IPL. He has already scored 1000 runs against Chennai Super Kings (1174), Delhi Capitals (1130), Punjab Kings (1159) and Kolkata Knight Riders (1021).
