Virat Kohli becomes first-ever player to bag this mighty feat in T20s during RCB vs PBKS IPL 2026 clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) batting maestro Virat Kohli scripted history during IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 17. Playing at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, the former RCB captain became the first player in world cricket to cross the 1,200-run milestone against a single opponent in T20s.

Virat Kohli bags historic milestone in Dharamsala

Walking into his 37th T20 appearance against the Punjab franchise needing 41 runs to secure the record, Kohli reached the landmark in spectacular fashion by smashing a six on the very first ball of the 12th over while batting on 40.

Kohli’s unparalleled dominance against specific opponents is further highlighted by the fact that he completely monopolizes the top three spots on this elite list. In addition to his record-breaking tally against Punjab, he holds the second and third positions for the most T20 runs against a single team. He has racked up an incredible 1,196 runs in 34 matches against the Delhi Capitals, and an equally formidable 1,187 runs in 37 outings against the Chennai Super Kings.

The remaining spots in the top five feature two other modern-day batting greats. Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma occupies the fourth position, having accumulated 1,161 runs in 36 T20 games against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Rounding out the top five is legendary Australian opener David Warner, who sits in fifth place with 1,134 runs scored across just 26 T20 matches, interestingly also achieved against the Punjab Kings.

Because Virat Kohli has played all 37 of his T20 matches against the Punjab Kings exclusively within the Indian Premier League, this historic milestone also crowns him as the first player ever to score 1,200 runs against a single franchise in IPL history. Mirroring his global T20 dominance, Kohli completely locks down the top three positions on the all-time IPL list against specific opponents. He holds the second and third spots with an incredible 1,174 runs against the Chennai Super Kings and 1,172 runs against the Delhi Capitals.

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Virat Kohli's batting wizardry continues in IPL 2026

The remaining positions in the top five are held by two of the league's most destructive openers. Current India star Rohit Sharma claims the fourth spot, having accumulated 1,161 runs in 36 matches against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Meanwhile, former Australian powerhouse David Warner sits comfortably in fifth place, having bludgeoned 1,134 runs in just 26 outings, a feat remarkably achieved against the Punjab Kings as well.

In addition to rewriting the all-time record books, the legendary RCB batter achieved another monumental milestone during this very innings. By crossing the 500-run mark for the IPL 2026 season, Kohli became the first player in the history of the tournament to breach the 500-run threshold in nine separate seasons, further cementing his legacy as the league's most consistent run-machine.

Kohli ended up cracking a solid 37-ball 58 to help RCB post a colossal total of 222/4.