Virat Kohli runs in IPL in total are nearing 8,000 – he has made 7,805 so far, scoring 500 runs in a season seven times thus far. He is one of the very few players to have played all the seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a single team. He has represented the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (then Royal Challengers Bangalore) ever since the inception of the cash-rich league back in 2008. He was the U19 World Cup-winning captain then and RCB didn’t miss out on the opportunity to secure the services of the future star.
Since then, Kohli has time and again reiterated his wish to play for RCB till the end of his career. Despite not winning a single trophy so far, RCB’s fan following has been immense and even Kohli’s too and the latter has more to do with Virat Kohli runs in IPL over the years.
He has been in terrific form in IPL 2024 too and for the record-equalling seventh time, has gone past the 500-run mark in a single season. Hence, here we look at Virat Kohli runs in IPL.
Leading run-scorer of each IPL team: Virat Kohli nears 8k for RCB
Virat Kohli runs in IPL: Season-by-season record
| Season | Runs scored |
| IPL 2008 | 165 runs |
| IPL 2009 | 246 runs |
| IPL 2010 | 307 runs |
| IPL 2011 | 557 runs |
| IPL 2012 | 364 runs |
| IPL 2013 | 634 runs |
| IPL 2014 | 359 runs |
| IPL 2015 | 505 runs |
| IPL 2016 | 973 runs |
| IPL 2017 | 308 runs |
| IPL 2018 | 530 runs |
| IPL 2019 | 464 runs |
| IPL 2020 | 466 runs |
| IPL 2021 | 405 runs |
| IPL 2022 | 341 runs |
| IPL 2023 | 639 runs |
| IPL 2024 | 542* runs |
- IPL 2008
Virat Kohli runs in IPL didn’t come easy as his career in the T20 league didn’t start on a great note. In the inaugural season, Kohli could only muster 165 runs in 12 innings at a mediocre average of 15 and a strike rate of 105.09 with not a single fifty to his name. But it was just the start of what was supposed to be an excellent career not only in IPL but at the international level too.
- IPL 2009
IPL shifted to South Africa and Virat Kohli runs in IPL improved a tad bit. He mustered 246 runs in 13 innings at an average of 22.36 and a strike rate of 112.32. Kohli managed to score his maiden IPL fifty in this season but his best was yet to come in the T20 extravaganza.
- IPL 2010
Virat Kohli crossed the 300-run mark for the first time in IPL 2010. He was the also the third highest run-getter for RCB in that season with 307 runs to his name at a brilliant strike rate of 144.81 and an average of 27.9 with one fifty to his name. Only Jacques Kallis and Robin Uthappa scored more runs than him in IPL 2010.
- IPL 2011
Virat Kohli was the World Cup-winner in IPL 2011 and he had started created his legacy in the cricketing world. In a way, his breakthrough IPL season came in 2011 as he ended as the second highest run-getter of the edition. Kohli amassed a staggering 557 runs in 16 innings at an impeccable average of 46.41 and a strike rate of 121.08 with four half-centuries to his name.
- IPL 2012
The graph went down a tad in terms of Virat Kohli runs in IPL in 2012. He couldn’t back up a breakthrough 2011 edition with another as the RCB batter could score only 364 runs in 15 innings at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 111.65 with two fifties.
- IPL 2013
This was Virat Kohli’s first season as RCB captain and he led from the front for his side too. The skipper ended the season as the third highest run-getter amassing a mammoth 634 runs at a superb average of 45.28 and a strike rate of 138.73 with as many as six half-centuries. In fact, Kohli missed out on his maiden IPL ton getting out on 99.
- IPL 2014
Kohli’s run in IPL hit a low in IPL 2014. The man didn’t look in great form as he got out for a duck three times. Overall, Kohli could only score 359 runs in 14 matches in 2014 with two half-centuries to show for his efforts. He struck his runs at 122.10 and an average of 27.61 with the best score of 73.
- IPL 2015
Things got back to normalcy with Virat Kohli runs in IPL going beyond the 500-run mark for the third time. Virat Kohli was back at his best alongside AB de Villiers with the duo smashing more than 500 runs each. Kohli specifically amassed 505 runs at an average of 145.9 and a strike rate of 130.82 with three fifties to his name.
- IPL 2016
It was a record-breaking season for RCB and Virat Kohli in IPL 2016 with the captain leading from the front. Kohli smashed a staggering 973 runs in 16 matches at a terrific average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03 with seven fifties and as many as four centuries to his name. After a poor start, Kohli took RCB single-handedly to the final only for them to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight runs.
- IPL 2017
RCB endured a poor season in 2017 as despite their leading run-scorer, Virat Kohli runs in IPL didn’t inspire any confidence. He could only score 308 runs in 10 matches at an average of 30.8 and a strike rate of 122.22 with four fifties to his name.
- IPL 2018
For the fourth time in his IPL career, Virat Kohli breached the 500-run mark in IPL 2018. He scored 530 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.18 and a strike rate of 139.10 with four fifties. Kohli also remained unbeaten on three occasions finishing the innings and his best score of the season read 92*.’
- IPL 2019
Virat Kohli runs in IPL continued to flow in IPL 2019 while playing for RCB. This time around, he managed to amass 464 runs at an average of 33.14 and a strike rate of 141.46 with a century and a couple of fifties to his name. For the umpteenth time in IPL, Kohli ended up as the highest run-scorer for RCB in the season.
- IPL 2020
IPL was played behind the closed doors in IPL 2020 but it didn’t deter Kohli as runs continued to flow from his bat. The RCB captain scored 466 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.36 with four fifties. Apart from him and De Villiers though, Devdutt Padikkal shined for RCB in this season making it one of the better IPL editions for them without a trophy.
- IPL 2021
It was an emotional season for RCB fans as Virat Kohli had already announced stepping down from captaincy of the franchise. For the third consecutive IPL edition, Kohli couldn’t cross the 500-run mark, this time managing to score 405 runs with three fifties to his name.
- IPL 2022
Virat Kohli runs in IPL came down drastically in IPL 2022. He could only muster 341 runs at an average of 22.73 and a mediocre strike rate of 115.98. Kohli also bagged three ducks in the edition while also hitting a couple of half-centuries.
- IPL 2023
Virat Kohli was back amongst the runs in the best of his forms in IPL 2023. Runs flowed from his bat as he amassed 639 runs at an average of 53.25 and a strike rate of 139.82 with two centuries and six fifties even as he smashed 65 fours and 16 sixes.
- IPL 2024
The season is currently in progress but Virat Kohli runs in IPL have already gone past the 500-run mark for the record seventh time. He has so far scored 542 runs in 11 matches at an average of 67.75 and a strike rate of 148.08 with a century and four half-centuries to his name.
