Virat Kohli lit up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium once again—this time not just with his bat, but with a slice of cricketing history that will be etched in T20 folklore for years to come.
It was Match 42 of the IPL 2025 season, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were hosting the Rajasthan Royals under the floodlights of a jam-packed Chinnaswamy. The roar was deafening, the stakes were high, and when Kohli walked out to bat with Phil Salt, you could sense something special in the air.
A Milestone That Only King Kohli Could Reach
RCB were put in to bat after RR’s stand-in skipper Riyan Parag opted to chase. The decision seemed bold—until Kohli turned it into a regret. The drama kicked off in the third over when Jofra Archer steamed in, trying to rattle Kohli with pace and venom. On ball 2.5, Archer got one to nip back sharply. Kohli, uncharacteristically flat-footed, got a thick inside edge that narrowly missed the stumps and raced to the fine leg boundary. A lucky escape? Maybe. But it was vintage Kohli the very next ball.
Archer came back with a short one, but Kohli was ready. He rolled his wrists and dispatched it wide of square leg with surgical precision. Another four. Another moment of brilliance. And with that, Virat Kohli rewrote the history books—becoming the first player in T20 cricket history to score 3500 runs at a single venue.
Every run was made at his beloved Chinnaswamy—a fortress he’s turned into his own coliseum. No player—past or present—has ever owned a ground in the shortest format like Kohli has. This wasn’t just another record. It was a love letter to Bengaluru, to RCB, and to an era defined by the man in red and gold.
The Titans Behind the King
To understand how colossal this feat is, consider the names trailing Kohli.
Bangladesh’s dependable Mushfiqur Rahim is next best with 3373 runs at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla Stadium, spread across 136 innings with 20 fifties. A consistent performer, yes—but still over 100 runs behind Kohli.
England’s James Vince follows with 3253 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, bolstered by 2 centuries and 24 fifties. Then comes Alex Hales, a T20 powerhouse with 3241 runs at Trent Bridge and an eye-popping strike rate of 154.62.
Tamim Iqbal rounds out the top five with 3238 at Mirpur, including a best of 141*—a record in itself. All greats at their home turfs, no doubt.
But none have combined longevity, loyalty, and legacy like Kohli has at Chinnaswamy. One venue. One franchise. One man rewriting the T20 narrative on his own terms.
Kohli’s Reign Continues
In a format built for fireworks and fleeting moments, Virat Kohli has been the anchor, the maestro, and the moment itself. His 3500-run milestone isn’t just about numbers—it’s about presence, persistence, and passion. And if the crowd’s thunderous chants were anything to go by, the King still rules in Bengaluru.
