Former Mitchell McClenaghan has showered former Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Virat Kohli with praise, naming him the most reliable player in Indian Premier League history and praising his versatility across roles and periods.
In the history of the competition, Kohli became the first batter to reach 9000 runs. At his home stadium, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, he reached the milestone during his team’s game against the Delhi Capitals. He easily chased a 76-run target, scoring an undefeated 23 from 15 balls with a strike rate of 153.33.
“Virat Kohli has been incredibly consistent. Scoring 9000 IPL runs against the world’s best bowlers is no easy task. It’s about hunger, discipline, and adapting every year, and that’s what brings the best out of him,” McClenaghan said on JioHotstar.
McClenaghan emphasized Kohli’s outstanding development in the IPL since the league’s founding in 2008, pointing out how the right-handed hitter has effectively transitioned into a variety of roles throughout time. He added that Kohli is expected to achieve 10,000 IPL runs, which is another significant milestone for the veteran.
“He didn’t start his career as an opener. He batted in the lower middle order, fought for his place, then moved to number three. Later, he opened with Chris Gayle. That changed his game completely. He will soon reach 10,000 runs, without a doubt. Kohli is the greatest batter the IPL has ever seen, not just for the runs, but for how he has evolved and dominated across different eras,” said McClenaghan.
At an average of 40.05 and a strike rate of 133.05, Kohli has amassed 9,012 runs in 275 games, including eight hundreds and 66 half-centuries. With 351 runs in eight innings at an average of 58.50 and an outstanding strike rate of 162.50, which includes three fifties, he is now ranked fourth in the Orange Cap race.
After winning six of their last eight games, RCB now has 12 points and is ranked second in the standings. Choosing to bowl first, RCB put on a commanding display, limiting the opposition to just 75 in 16.3 overs with Josh Hazlewood scoring 4/12 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar scoring 3/5. With 30 runs, Abishek Porel was the leading scorer. Then, in just 6.3 overs, the reigning champions completed the chase.
