RCB’s chase-master shines again with unbeaten 73*, registering his 67th 50+ score to become the top all-time in IPL history, helping Bengaluru outclass Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
📍 Mullanpur, Punjab | April 20, 2025
Virat Kohli etched his name deeper into IPL folklore on Sunday by surpassing David Warner to become the player with the most fifty-plus scores in IPL history. Kohli’s unbeaten knock of 73 off 54 balls* against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur was not just a match-winning effort—it was a milestone moment in the league’s rich history.
With this, Kohli now holds 67 fifty-plus scores, including 8 centuries, overtaking Warner’s 66 (including 4 hundreds). Shikhar Dhawan sits third on the list with 53.
📊 Virat Kohli – IPL Record So Far
- Matches: 244
- Runs: 8,326
- Average: 39.27
- Strike Rate: 132.26
- Fifty-Plus Scores: 67 (59 fifties, 8 centuries)
- Best Score: 113*
Kohli’s landmark came in yet another calculated chase. His 73* featured 7 boundaries and a six, and came at a strike rate of 135.19. This was his fourth half-century in eight innings this season, a testament to his consistency in 2025.
🔥 Red-Hot Form in Run Chases – IPL 2025
- 59 vs KKR* (36 balls)
- 62 vs RR* (45 balls)
- 73 vs PBKS* (54 balls)
Kohli has now amassed 322 runs in 8 matches at an astounding average of 64.40 and strike rate of 140.00, making him RCB’s top scorer and the third-highest overall this season.
🧮 Dominance vs PBKS
Kohli has always enjoyed batting against Punjab Kings. His last five scores against them read:
59, 77, 92, 1, 50* — and now 73*.
In total, he has scored 1,104 runs in 34 innings vs PBKS, including 1 century and 6 fifties, at an average of 36.80.
🏏 Match Recap: RCB vs PBKS – Match 37
- Toss: RCB won and chose to bowl.
- PBKS Score: 157/6 (20 overs)
- Top Performers:
- Prabhsimran Singh – 33 (17)
- Shashank Singh – 31* (33)
- Marco Jansen – 25* (20)
- Krunal Pandya – 2/25
- Suyash Sharma – 2/26
- Top Performers:
PBKS got off to a brisk start, reaching 42 in just 4 overs, but collapsed under spin pressure from Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma. A late rescue act from Jansen and Shashank Singh pushed them to a fighting total of 157.
- RCB Score: 159/3 in 18.5 overs
- Top Performers:
- Virat Kohli – 73* (54)
- Devdutt Padikkal – 61 (35)
- Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Chahal – 1 wicket each
- Top Performers:
Chasing 158, RCB lost Phil Salt early, but Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal put on a 103-run stand that flattened PBKS’s bowling. Padikkal was aggressive throughout, scoring 61 off just 35 balls, while Kohli held one end with vintage finesse.
📈 Points Table Impact
With this win:
- RCB move to 3rd spot with 10 points (5 wins, 3 losses).
- PBKS remain at 4th, also with 10 points but a lower Net Run Rate.
RCB also avenged their earlier loss to PBKS at Chinnaswamy, continuing their five-match unbeaten away streak.
🏆 What It Means
For Kohli, this match added another chapter to his already legendary IPL career. For RCB, it was a confidence-boosting win that keeps their playoff dreams on track. As the season moves into a critical phase, Kohli’s form may well be RCB’s biggest asset.