The King of 22 Yards Hits 1000 vs KKR: Virat Joins Elite Club
Kolkata, March 23: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) icon Virat Kohli etched another golden chapter in his IPL legacy on Saturday as he became only the third batter to score over 1,000 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The landmark came during his unbeaten 59-run knock off 36 balls in the IPL 2025 opener at Eden Gardens.
The stylish innings, peppered with four fours and three sixes, powered Kohli past the 1,000-run mark against the three-time champions. He now joins an elite list that includes David Warner (1,093) and Rohit Sharma (1,070) as the only players to breach the milestone against KKR.
Earlier in the day, Kohli was celebrated in grand style during the IPL 2025 opening ceremony. BCCI President Roger Binny presented him with a special ‘IPL 18’ momento, recognizing his incredible contribution to the league since its inception.
Kohli has been a one-team man for RCB since 2008 and captained the side from 2011 to 2023. Despite never lifting the trophy, he remains the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 8,004 runs in 252 matches, including eight centuries and 55 fifties. His 2016 campaign remains unmatched—973 runs and four centuries in a single season.
Saturday’s match also marked Kohli’s 400th appearance in T20 cricket, a testament to his longevity and dominance across formats.
Adding to the celebration, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of KKR, brought star power to the stage as he introduced Kohli during the event. “The King of 22 yards and a billion hearts. Let’s hear the loudest for the one and only, the GOAT, Virat Kohli,” SRK declared, before the two broke into a celebratory dance to the chartbuster ‘Jhoome Jo Pathaan.’
Whether it’s the scoreboard or the stage, Kohli continues to command hearts, proving yet again why he’s the heartbeat of Indian cricket and the IPL.
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