IPL 2026: Virat Kohli on the brink of history, poised to become 1st batter to...

Virat Kohli is once again on the verge of rewriting the record books. Ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Kohli stands just 20 runs shy of becoming the first batter in T20 history to score 1,000 runs against the five-time champions.

Already the leading run-scorer against MI in T20 cricket, Kohli has amassed 980 runs in 35 innings across the 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 the top level.

Kohli’s dominance vs Mumbai Indians

Kohli’s record against MI reflects his ability to deliver across seasons:

• Innings: 35
• Runs: 980
• Average: 31.61
• Strike Rate: 129.11
• 50+ scores: 6
• Highest score: 92*
• Sixes: 36

His tally already places him ahead of several IPL greats, including KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in terms of T20 runs against Mumbai.

Race with KL Rahul adds intrigue

While Kohli leads overall T20 numbers, the IPL-only race tells a slightly different story. KL Rahul has scored 976 runs against MI in just 20 innings, making him the most prolific batter against them in IPL history so far.

Kohli, meanwhile, has 922 runs in 34 IPL innings against MI and needs 78 more to reach the 1,000-run mark in the league alone. This adds an extra layer of competition between two of India’s finest modern batters.

Wankhede: A happy hunting ground

The venue for tonight’s clash, Wankhede Stadium, has been particularly kind to Kohli over the years. 401 runs in 12 innings vs MI at Wankhede with an average: 45.55 Across his IPL career at the venue, Kohli has scored 641 runs at an average of 45.78, underlining his comfort on the batting-friendly surface.

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If he crosses the 1,000-run mark today, MI will be the fifth team against which Kohli has achieved this milestone in the IPL . He has already reached 1,000 runs against Chennai Super Kings (1174), Delhi Capitals (1130), Punjab Kings (1159), and Kolkata Knight Riders (1021).