A Landmark Moment in Indian Cricket
Virat Kohli Creates History as First Indian to Score 13,000 T20 Runs : Virat Kohli, the face of modern Indian cricket, has added another remarkable chapter to his legacy. During a high-octane IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium, Kohli became the first Indian cricketer to score 13,000 runs in T20 cricket. This incredible achievement makes him the fifth player globally to reach the milestone, and the second-fastest ever to do so—only behind Chris Gayle. At 36, Kohli shows no signs of slowing down, even after his retirement from international T20Is.
The Journey of Consistency and Class
Kohli’s T20 journey began in 2007, and over the years, he has consistently stood out with his ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed. His first T20 century came in IPL 2016, and since then, he has notched up dozens of match-winning performances for both India and RCB. He crossed the 10,000-run mark in IPL 2021, achieving it in just 299 innings. The 13,000-run mark was reached in 386 innings, which makes him faster than legends like Shoaib Malik and Kieron Pollard, and only slightly behind Gayle, who took 381 innings.
Ranking Among the Greats
Globally, Kohli now joins the elite club of players who have scored over 13,000 runs in T20s. He is in company with:
- Chris Gayle – 14,562 runs
- Alex Hales – 13,610 runs
- Shoaib Malik – 13,557 runs
- Kieron Pollard – 13,537 runs
- Virat Kohli – 13,001+ runs
Among Indian players, Rohit Sharma comes next with 11,851 runs, but Kohli has clearly set a benchmark that will be hard to catch in the near future.
What It Means for Indian Cricket and the IPL
While Kohli has retired from international T20s, his continued dominance in the IPL plays a vital role in inspiring the next generation of Indian batters. His ability to stay fit, adapt to different formats, and evolve his gameplay with time makes him a model athlete. Kohli’s record not only boosts the brand of Indian cricket but also highlights the evolving nature of T20 cricket as a format of skill and longevity—not just power-hitting.
STATIC GK SNAPSHOT
Virat Kohli Creates History as First Indian to Score 13,000 T20 Runs :
| Aspect | Detail |
| Milestone Date | April 2025 |
| Occasion | IPL 2025: RCB vs MI at Wankhede Stadium |
| Total T20 Runs | 13,001+ (first Indian to do so) |
| First T20 Century | IPL 2016 |
| 10,000 Run Mark Reached | IPL 2021 (in 299 innings) |
| 13,000 Run Mark Reached | In 386 innings |
| Global Ranking | Became the 5th player worldwide to surpass 13,000 runs in T20 cricket. |
| Fastest to 13,000 Runs | 2nd fastest (after Chris Gayle – 381 innings) |
| Other Indian in T20 Top Runs | Rohit Sharma – 11,851 runs |
| T20I Retirement | Retired from international T20s, active in IPL |
