Virat Kohli - The legend continues as he crosses 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket

Virat Kohli has become the first Indian to go past 10,000 runs in the shortest format of the game and it sums up his brilliance at a time when there are questions raised over his form.

Virat Kohli has been in sensational form in the IPL 2021, going past 10,000 runs in the match against Mumbai Indians. (Image credit: IPL Twitter)
By Siddharth vishwanathan | Sep 27, 2021 | 5 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Virat Kohli has been on a ‘lean’ patch for the last two years. The Indian cricket team skipper has not hit a century in any format for the last two years. Although his record in ODIs and Twenty20 Internationals is brilliant, his record in Tests has been poor. During the World Test Championship cycle from 2020 till now, he has averaged less than 30 in most of the series that he has played. His average in Twenty20 Internationals has been 71, indicating he is not even in poor form.

But, in the recent match against Mumbai Indians, the Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper created history in IPL 2021. When he smashed a six to get off the mark and he reached a fifty, Kohli became the first Indian player to reach 10,000 runs in Twenty20s. He joins four other players apart from him who has reached the landmark of 10,000.

With Kohli announcing his stepping away as captain from T20s after the end of the ICC World T20 2021, this latest landmark will once again silence the doubters who have raised questions. With Royal Challengers Bangalore also doing well, it seems that Virat Kohli’s 10,000 landmark is one part of a broader picture of glory. Here are some of the other players who have gone past 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket.

Chris Gayle (14275 runs, Strike-rate: 145.66, Centuries: 22)

Without a doubt, one of the greatest players to have ever grazed the shortest format of the game. Chris Gayle is to Twenty20 cricket what Sir Don Bradman was to Test cricket. The gold standard. The Universe Boss has been one of the ultimate stalwarts of Twenty20 cricket, creating plenty of records. His tally of 22 centuries is the best. The rest of the top five combined do not even match up to that score. His highest score of 175 in an IPL 2013 clash against Sahara Pune Warriors remains the highest score by a batsman.

Be it the Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League, Vitality Blast T20, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Lanka T20 League, South Africa’s T20 competition, or Zimbabwe, Gayle has dominated every league in the world. In the IPL, he is one of the leading century makers and run-getters when it comes to overseas players. He is the only player to hit 1000 fours and sixes in the format, which means 10,672 runs or 74.61 percent of his runs have come only through that medium. Gayle is truly one of the greatest batters in history.

Kieron Pollard (11202, Strike-rate: 152.74, Centuries: 1)

One of the ultimate finishers for a franchise and power-hitter par excellence. He is the only player to have a strike rate of 150 in Twenty20 cricket. Kieron Pollard has also played 564 Twenty20 matches, which is the most by any player. He and Dwayne Bravo are the only players to have registered over 500 matches in the shortest format of the game. Kieron Pollard has been known as the ultimate finisher for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. It was his exploits in the finals of 2013, 2015, and 2019 against Chennai Super Kings that helped them win the title.

Pollard’s amazing hitting and calmness at the end has been simply sensational. For the sheer volume of the consistency that he has produced, Kieron Pollard is a legendary all-rounder. He was also a worthy bowler, having taken wickets at crucial intervals. Pollard has hit more sixes than fours, indicating that he knows when to strike the big hits.

Shoaib Malik (10832, Strike-rate: 125.77, Centuries: 0)

Shoaib Malik is one of the last active male cricketers from the 90s who are still playing international cricket and league cricket. Malik has been a globe-trotter when it comes to Twenty20 leagues. Before relations soured with India, he was part of an IPL franchise. Since then, he has made a mark in the Caribbean Premier League, Vitality T20 blast, and the Big Bash League. However, he has played for many Pakistan sides in the provincial Twenty20 tournaments and has been amassing plenty of runs.

Malik is the torch-bearer when it comes to Pakistan Twenty20 cricket for his sheer longevity. In a 16-year career, he has been pivotal in the middle order. Although he has not scored a century, his tally still remains one of the best in the business.

Virat Kohli (10038, Strike-rate: 133.85, Centuries: 5)

The ultimate run-machine in cricket. Virat Kohli has scored over 10,000 runs in ODIs and is on the cusp of reaching that landmark soon in Tests. With 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket, he is now the ultimate master in all formats. Kohli has been sensational in every sense. In IPL 2016, he smashed all the records and hit 973 runs in a single season. The fact that he could match up to Bradmanesque numbers in the shortest format shows his appetite for runs. He hit four centuries in that one season alone. Kohli has also been with only one IPL club in his entire history, thus ensuring that the club loyalty is far greater. Kohli, who has decided to step down as captain of the shortest format, might be looking at IPL 2021 as a springboard to sign off on the ultimate high.

With the Twenty20 World Cup soon, it remains to be seen how Kohli the skipper ends and how Kohli the batsman steps up. If one sees the glimpse of the old Virat Kohli, then opponents all over the world have some more years of pain.

David Warner (10019, Strike-rate: 140.71, Centuries: 8)

The Australian left-hander has been a dasher for the national and for various sides in Twenty20 cricket. He made a mark in international cricket in the shortest format when he blasted 89 on debut against South Africa. Without having played any First-Class cricket, Warner was a sensation right from the very beginning of the T20 revolution. While he has been impressive in the Caribbean Premier League, Big Bash League, and Vitality Blast T20, it is in the IPL where he has been the ultimate run-machine.

When it comes to overseas players, Warner has topped the charts in the IPL. It was the left-hander who led from the front in the 2016 IPL. Virat Kohli had scored 973 runs but Warner responded with 848 runs to help Sunrisers Hyderabad win their first title. He has hit a total of eight centuries in the format which is second only behind Chris Gayle. Warner might be struggling in IPL currently but there is no denying his excellent record.





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